KNEC CEO Addresses Recent Poor KCSE Results

Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) CEO David Njengere has stepped forward to defend the 2025 KCSE results of students in sub-county schools, urging critics to look at “entry behavior” before dismissing their performance.

​Speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday, January 20, Njengere addressed growing concerns regarding the grade disparity between national schools and sub-county institutions. He argued that a direct comparison is statistically flawed because it ignores the academic starting point of the students.

​The “Entry Behavior” Factor

​Njengere pointed out that the current placement system creates an inherent performance gap long before the final exams are taken.

• • ​National Schools: Primarily admit students who scored 400 marks and above in the KCPE.
  • ​Sub-County Schools: Largely enroll students who scored 200 marks or below.

​”It is not possible to expect that, at the end of four years, sub-county schools can post comparable results with national schools,” Njengere explained.

​Signs of Progress

​Despite the lower average grades—which typically hover around C and D in these institutions—the KNEC boss highlighted a silver lining in the 2025 data:

• • • ​13% of sub-county learners achieved a grade of C+ or higher, meeting the minimum university entry requirement.
    • ​This statistic, according to Njengere, proves that students in these schools have the potential to excel if given the right support.

​The Path Forward

​The CEO emphasized that the focus should shift from criticism to investment. He suggested that the 13% success rate is a “positive trajectory” that indicates what could be achieved with more equitable resource distribution.

​”If we put more resources in those schools, there is no reason why a child should fail,” he concluded.