Girls made up half of the 993,000 candidates who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations, according to a briefing received by President William Ruto.

The update showed that 270,000 candidates attained C+ and above, qualifying for direct university entry. The President was briefed at the Eldoret State Lodge ahead of the release of the results today, Friday, January 9.

The briefing focused on the overall outcome of the national examinations and the readiness of the education sector to release the results to the public.

President Ruto was taken through the key figures, including the number of candidates who met the minimum university entry grade and the balance between male and female learners.

The President welcomed the performance, noting that a large group of candidates had qualified to join universities directly. He pointed to the figures as a reflection of steady progress in access to higher education across the country.

“We are impressed that out of the 993,000 candidates, 50 per cent of whom were girls, 270,000 attained C+ and above, securing a direct entry to university,” Ruto said.

The update also highlighted the strong participation of girls in the examinations, with equal representation among those who sat the tests. The figures showed that girls formed half of the total candidature, underscoring their presence in the national assessment.

The meeting at the Eldoret State Lodge came just hours before the official release of the results, a moment awaited by candidates, parents and schools nationwide.

The President was informed that the examination process had been completed and that the results were ready for release.

The 2025 KCSE results will determine placement into universities and guide the next steps for learners completing secondary school, as thousands prepare to transition into higher education institutions.