Homa Bay County produced the strongest KCPE candidate in Nyanza when the 2018 results were released on November 20, 2018, with St Peter’s Capeview pupil Master James Philip Sewe leading the region on 445 marks.
He was followed closely by Onyango Reuben Ombura of M.M. Shah, Kisumu, who scored 444 marks. Nationally, the top performers were Olive Mwea Wachira of Riara Road Primary in Nairobi and Rawlings Odhiambo of Kakamega Hill School, both on 453 marks, two marks below the 2017 high of 455 set by Goldalyn Kakuya of St Annes Junior School, Lubao, in Kakamega.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed announced the results at Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa. She said only four candidates had their results cancelled for impersonation after pre-examination monitoring and other anti-cheating checks.
Among the other leading candidates in Nyanza were Aduda Geral Obede of Aga Khan Primary School, Kisumu, with 439 marks, Maloba John Maloba of Makini School, Kibos, with 436, and Stephen Anga’sa of Kosawo Primary School, Kisumu, who scored 435. Private schools also featured prominently through Bundi Ogochi Simeon of Excel Preparatory — Nyamache in Kisii, Kevin Barry Mokaya of Golden Elite, and Ondieki Salim Ombongi of Itibo Boarding in Kisii, each on 434, while Ogweno Dedan of St Peter’s Capeview had 433.
Elsewhere in the country, Mogusu Victor Momanyi of Emmanuel Springs Academy in Makueni scored 452, Leonard Asanga of Moi Primary School, Kabarak, had 451, and Mwangi Ashley Wambui of Kutus Municipality Primary School in Kirinyaga County got 447. Joshua Angwekwe of Rudan Junion Academy and Njue Chantal Njeri of Thika Road Christian School each scored 446, while Ngetich Ryan Kipkurui of Whitestar Academy and Namisi Sharon Namikoye of Tender Care Academy had 445 apiece.
The results showed a wider improvement in performance compared with 2017 and 2016. Candidates scoring 401 marks and above rose to 12,273 from 9,846 in 2017 and 5,143 in 2016, while those with 301 marks and above increased to 228,414 from 217,307 and 207,141 in the previous two years. At the lower end, 2,177 candidates scored below 100 marks, down from 2,360 and 6,747 in the last two years.
Special-needs candidates also improved, with the top scorer posting 446 marks, up from 426 in 2017. Mohamed said the tougher controls introduced to curb cheating had helped clean up the exam process, adding that the 2018 performance had improved as teachers and learners adjusted to a stricter system.
The Kenya National Examinations Council released the results in under three weeks after the exam ended, part of a push that began in 2006 under then Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to speed up marking and reduce manipulation. In the past, KCPE results were often released after Christmas, long after the papers had been completed and marked.
Mohamed said only four cases of impersonation were confirmed this year. She added that the ministry’s monitoring had prevented most attempted cheating before the exams were completed.
Form One selection was set to begin on December 3, with successful candidates expected to report in January. Unlike previous years, the selection would be done once, without a second round.
The 2018 KCPE also reflected a near balance in enrolment by gender. Out of 1,052,364 candidates, 525,070 were girls and 527,294 were boys. Girls outnumbered boys in 23 of the 47 counties, including Kakamega, Nairobi, Meru, Nakuru, Bungoma, Siaya, Kisii, Kitui, Embu, Kisumu, Tharaka Nithi, Uasin Gishu and Kericho.
Even so, boys still led overall performance in most subjects. Girls did better in English, Kiswahili and Kenya Sign Language, while boys led in mathematics, science, social studies and religious education.
Another concern was the 8,347 candidates who did not sit the exam. That figure was lower than the 9,726 recorded the previous year, but officials said it still raised questions about dropout and possible double registration. Knec chairman George Magoha said exam cheating was now history and warned that anyone trying to beat the system had no place in the current setup.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang’ said the ministry would audit school infrastructure to establish the real condition of facilities and guide future investment. The review comes against a backdrop of many public primary schools still operating in poor conditions despite funding under the free primary education programme introduced in 2003, with some pupils still learning under trees or in roofless structures.
Private schools continued to dominate the top end of the results, extending a pattern that has persisted for years since the expansion of public enrolment after free primary education in 2003. The trend has left public schools under pressure from larger numbers, limited teachers and inadequate facilities.
