Education authorities say move upholds integrity of national exams as performance trends shift
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has annulled the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results of 1,180 students who sat the 2025 national examinations, citing confirmed examination irregularities detected during and after the examination period, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced on 9 January 2026.
Speaking at the official release of the KCSE results in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Mr Ogamba said the action followed investigations into suspected malpractice, and was taken in line with existing laws and regulations governing national assessments. “At the conclusion of the KCSE examination, 1,180 candidates were found to have been involved in examination irregularities. Consequently, and in line with the applicable law and regulations, their examination results have been cancelled,” he said.
Rise in Cancellations and Ongoing Probes
The figure marks a significant increase from last year, when 840 candidates had their results cancelled for similar breaches, underscoring ongoing concerns about examination integrity in Kenya’s secondary education system.
According to KNEC, investigations into reported malpractice began in November 2025, shortly after the exams were administered between 21 October and 14 November. The authority has also confirmed that further probes remain underway in 22 additional cases of alleged irregularities, with disciplinary measures expected once those inquiries conclude.
Broader Performance Trends
Despite the cancellations, overall performance in the 2025 KCSE showed modest improvements compared with the previous year. Of the nearly 993,226 candidates who sat the examinations, 1,932 attained a mean grade of A (plain) — up from 1,693 in 2024 — and more students qualified for direct university entry with a C+ or above.
The gender balance also continued to shift, with female candidates marginally outnumbering male candidates (50.46 per cent versus 49.54 per cent).
Upholding Examination Integrity
Mr Ogamba and KNEC officials reiterated that the cancellation of results was necessary to preserve the credibility and fairness of national examinations. In previous statements, the Cabinet Secretary warned that malpractice — including cheating and collusion — would attract sanctions in accordance with the KNEC (Handling of Examination Irregularities) Rules, 2015, which grant the council authority to withhold or cancel results where evidence of wrongdoing emerges.
Education stakeholders have emphasised that a robust assessment system is critical as Kenya navigates reforms in its education sector and transitions toward the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which is expected to be fully implemented for secondary education in the coming years.
What Happens Next
Affected candidates have been barred from accessing valid KCSE results. KNEC has advised learners and guardians to check individual results via the official online portal using index numbers and registered names.
The council has also set a 30-day window for candidates to lodge formal queries or appeals regarding their results, after which a fee will be charged for further requests.
As Kenya prepares for future examinations under evolving curricular frameworks, the handling of irregularities and enforcement of examination rules will remain key factors in maintaining public trust in the national assessment system.
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