A total of 1,083,456 candidates sat the 2019 KCPE examination, an increase from 1,052, 344 candidates in 2018, the Ministry of Education has said.
Of these, 543,582 (50.17%) were boys and 539,874 (49.82%) girls.
Speaking during the release of KCPE results at the KNEC headquarters on Monday, Education CS George Magoha said Nairobi, Kakamega and Nakuru counties registered the highest candidature respectively.
Nairobi had 62,498 candidates followed by Kakamega with 54,311 and Nakuru 53,225. Counties with the lowest candidature were: Lamu (2,959), Isiolo (3,454) and Samburu (4,793).
BEST CANDIDATES
The top candidate in the country was Andy Michael Munyiri of Damacrest Schools, Thogoto, with 440 marks.
Three candidates tied in the second position, two of them girls from public schools. They were Flavian Onyango of Chakol Girls (439 marks), June Cheptoo Koech of Sangalo Central (439 marks) and Sean Michael Ndung’u of Kitengela International School.
The number of candidates scoring 400 marks and above dropped to 9,770 (0.90%) from 11,559 (1.10%) last year.
There was a rise however in the number of candidates scoring between 301 and 400 marks, growing to 243,320 (22.46%) from 223,862 (21.27%) last year. Candidates with 201-300 were 566,886 compared to 576,346 in 2018.
262,307 candidates scored between 101-201 compared to 235,555 students in 2018. Lastly 1,173 candidates scored 1,173 marks an improvement from 2,198.
MORE FEMALE
Some 18 counties registered more female candidates compared with male candidates.
These counties are: Kakamega, Nairobi, Meru, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Kiambu, Siaya, Kitui, Embu, Kisumu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, Mombasa and Bomet.
The number of candidates who were absent increased by 2,322 (58.78%), from 3,950 in 2018 to 6,272 in the 2019 KCPE examination.
The highest number of absent candidates was recorded in Meru (407) and Turkana (385).
UNDERAGE, OVERAGE CANDIDATES
The number of under-age candidates increased from 15,747 (1.48%) in 2018 to 20,086 (1.84%) in 2019.
The counties that had the highest number of candidates with under-age candidates were: Bungoma (1,770), Bomet (1,111), and Kericho (1,144).
Three top counties with the highest cases of over-age candidates (above 19 years) were: Turkana (4,013), Garissa (1,957) and Kilifi (3,716). Performance of Candidates
SUBJECT PERFORMANCE
Candidates improved in English, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, Social Studies and Religious Education. There was, however, a slight drop in mathematics and science.
“Overall, I am impressed that the performance of the candidates was better than last year, an indicator that our teachers are doing a wonderful job in attending to our learners,” Magoha said.
On the other hand, male candidates performed slightly better than their female counterparts in mathematics, science and social studies and Religious Education.
Magoha said all class eight pupils will be placed in high school by December 2. Placement of candidates will start on Tuesday to December 2.
“I assure all candidates that by December they will know which schools they will go to,” he said. The CS said the selection will be fair, transparent and fast.
“Parents will have enough time to prepare their children for high school re-entry. They won’t spend all the money on food during Christmas,” he said.
He further said 9000 scholarships will be awarded to candidates, with 30 per cent awarded to candidates from slums in inner major cities.