The Ministry of Education has released the results of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), marking a major milestone as the first cohort under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system completes junior school.
A total of 1,130,459 learners sat for the KJSEA, with 578,630 males (51.19%) and 551,829 females (48.81%). Nairobi County recorded the highest number of candidates at 71,022, followed by Kakamega (59,384) and Nakuru (54,028). Forty-one counties had more male students than female, while Mombasa registered gender parity with equal numbers of male and female candidates. Counties including Isiolo, Nairobi, Samburu, Marsabit and West Pokot had more female than male candidates.
Age statistics showed that 642,620 learners (56.84%) were aged 14 to 15. Underage candidates aged 13 and below totalled 35,270 (3.12%), while older learners aged 16 and 17 numbered 415,059 (36.71%), and adult learners aged 18 and above accounted for 37,638 (3.33%).
Kilifi led in the highest proportion of over-age learners at 64.90%, followed by Kwale (64.78%) and Garissa (63.38%). Baringo recorded the highest share of underage learners at 10.10%, with Bomet (7.56%) and Marsabit (7.48%) also notable.
The KJSEA uses an eight-point scale, categorising performance from Below Expectation to Exceeding Expectation. Analysis across subjects shows that 75% of candidates scored at Approaching Expectations or higher. Subjects where learners performed particularly well included Creative Arts and Sports (96.84%), Agriculture (96.24%), Kiswahili (93.11%) and Social Studies (92.93%).
Gender gaps were evident: female learners outperformed males in ten of the twelve subjects in Meeting and Exceeding Expectations categories. The widest gap appeared in Kiswahili, where 64.86% of female learners met or exceeded expectations compared with 51.41% of male learners.
In English, 52.86% of female learners met or exceeded expectations compared with 48.45% of male learners, while in Social Studies, the figures were 62.98% for females and 54.35% for males. Achievement levels were lower in Mathematics (32.44%) and Kenyan Sign Language (22.14%).
Pathway indicators revealed that 59.09% of candidates demonstrated potential for STEM careers, 46.52% for Social Sciences, and 48.73% for Arts and Sports.
The KJSEA is the Grade 9 summative assessment under CBET, designed to evaluate learner competencies and inform senior school placement. It contributes 60% to the final learner score, with the remaining 40% coming from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment and school-based assessments in Grades 7–8.
The assessment comprised written papers and practical or project components. Despite weather-related disruptions heavy rains, swollen rivers and a landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet the Ministry confirmed that all registered learners were able to sit the exams. Special arrangements were made for learners hospitalised during the assessment period.
Placement to senior school will begin next week and conclude by December 20, 2025, with reporting for Grade 10 set for January 12, 2025. The Ministry also confirmed that learners wishing to change their allocated schools or pathways will be able to do so once the placement portal opens.
“As we speak today, the total capacity of the 9,540 Senior Schools is 2.2 million learners. A total of 929,262 learners will be exiting secondary school after KCSE this year. Senior Schools will have an extra classroom(s) left by the fact that we will only have three classes at this level. These classrooms are expected to provide extra space, enabling us to avoid overcrowding. We therefore have more than enough capacity to accommodate all the learners whose results we are releasing today,” Ogamba stated.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated that the government will continue providing capitation of KSh 22,244 per learner annually in senior school. He also made it clear that no boarding fees or other charges have been revised.
“To foster access to basic education, the Government will continue to provide capitation at the approved rate of Ksh. 22,244 per learner per year in Senior School. At the same time, we wish to emphasize for the avoidance of doubt that there has been no revision of boarding fees, or any other fees, payable for learners in Senior School. The prevailing guidance from the Ministry of Education on the amounts payable as will continue to apply as has been the case,” said Ogamba.
Individual KJSEA results are available online through the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) portal using a learner’s assessment number and registered name.
