On 20 November 2018, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed released the KCPE results at Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa, with private schools once again taking the spotlight and the top two candidates finishing level on 453 marks.
Olive Mwea Wachira of Riara Road Primary in Nairobi and Rawlings Odhiambo Aketch of Kakamega Hill School shared the national lead. Their score was two marks below the 455 posted the previous year by Goldalyn Kakuya of St Annes Junior School, Lubao, in Kakamega.
Just behind the pair were Mogusu Victor Momanyi of Emmanuel Springs Academy in Makueni with 452 marks and Asanga Leonard Munayi of Moi Primary School, Kabarak, with 451. Merabu Adan Osinga of Booker Academy in Kakamega followed on 449, while Ashley Wambui Wambugu of Kutus Municipality Primary in Kerugoya scored 447.
Other high performers included Joshua Angwekwe of Rudan Junior Academy and Njue Chantal Njeri of Thika Road Christian School, both on 446. Ngetich Ryan Kipkurui of Whitestar Academy, Kiptoo Calvin Kiprono of St Marks Preparatory School in Nandi, Namisi Sharon Namikoye of Tender Care Academy and James Sewe of St Peters Cape View each had 445. Njagi Ronnie Gathuku of Effort Junior School in Kerugoya, King’ori Karleen Njeri of Riara Road Primary, Onyango Rueben Ombura of M.M Shah in Kisumu, Charles Chiteti of St Peters Boys in Kakamega and Njoroge Karanja of Makini all scored 444, while Fleon Ogutu of Gilgil Hills Academy and Wanjohi Ivy Nyambura of High Peak Junior Academy in Naivasha had 443.
Among those on 442 were Alvin Gikunju of PCEA Kahawa Sukari, Dorothy Hadassah of Genesis Preparatory School in Kisii, Njonje Jefferson Amukhono of Marel Academy in Bungoma, Debra Gakii and Hilary Muriungi of Fred’s Academy in Meru County, and Kevin Manyansi of Makini School in Nairobi. Waihenya Elizabeth Wanjeri of Nyeri Primary, Muchiri Brian Nderitu of Elite School in Murang’a, Ian Kiama of Kathigiri Primary, Abundance Kariuki Nyaga of Fred’s Academy, Sirma Amy Jemutai of Ongata Academy, Samora Ochieng of St Peters’ Boys and Sala Abdimaaid Yakubu of Makini all finished on 441.
The Coast region’s best result came from Mvurya Hassan Wanini of Likunda Primary School in Kwale, who scored 440. He was followed by Rachael Rehema Masa of Bamba Kofi Academy in Kilifi with 434, Fatma Anis of Memon Academy with 433, Bushuru Joan Ongachi of Mtwapa Elite Academy in Kilifi with 431, and Evans Musyoka of Coast High Vision and Mahenzo Yeri of Dzikunze in Kilifi, both on 430.
In Northern Kenya, Mohammed Isack of Moyale Junior led with 430 marks. Billan Mohamed Diis Furqan of Integrated Academy in Wajir scored 426, while Britney Kirimi Mwenda of High Vision Junior School in Isiolo County had 421.
The results again showed private schools dominating the top end, a pattern that has persisted for years. The source of that shift was traced to the introduction of free primary education in 2003, which expanded enrolment in public schools but also left them under pressure from overcrowding, teacher shortages and weak facilities.
Overall performance improved from 2017 and 2016. A total of 12,273 candidates scored 401 marks and above, compared with 9,846 in 2017 and 5,143 in 2016. Those scoring 301 marks and above rose to 228,414, up from 217,307 and 207,141 in the previous two years. At the lower end, 2,177 candidates scored below 100, down from 2,360 and 6,747 in the two preceding years.
Candidates with special needs also posted stronger results, with the top candidate scoring 446 marks, up from 426 the previous year.
Mohamed said the tighter controls had reduced cheating, and only four candidates had their results cancelled for impersonation. She said pre-examination monitoring in the second term helped stop many would-be cases before the exam period.
“We stepped up measures against cheating, starting with pre-examination monitoring in the second term. As a result, most of the would-be cases of cheating were prevented. However, during the monitoring exercise, our vigilant teams discovered four candidates guilty of impersonation. These four will have their results cancelled,” she said.
“In the 2018 KCPE examination, the overall performance has improved compared to last year. Analysis shows that since the new tough measures meant to end cheating were first implemented in 2016, the performance — which was lowest in 2016 — has started rising, a clear indicator that teachers are now seriously focused on their work and that candidates also work hard in class knowing that only hard work will count and not the occasional cheating that had become common in some centres”.
The 2018 exam cycle was marked by a faster release of results, continuing the Kenya National Examinations Council’s push to shorten the waiting period. In earlier years, KCPE results often came after Christmas, long after marking had ended, creating room for manipulation by unscrupulous officials who altered grades for cash. The reforms began in 2006 under then Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who pushed for tighter, more credible testing.
Form One selection was set to begin on 3 December, with successful candidates expected to report in January. Unlike previous years, selection would be done once only, without a second round.
Out of 1,052,364 candidates who sat the exam, 525,070 were girls and 527,294 were boys. Girls made up 49.90 per cent of the total, while boys accounted for 50.10 per cent. 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. Girls did better only in English, Kiswahili and Sign Language, while boys performed better in mathematics, science, social studies and religious education.
Another concern was the 8,347 candidates who did not write the examinations. Although that was 14 per cent lower than the 9,726 recorded the previous year, the figure remained troubling because it could point to dropout or double registration meant to facilitate cheating.
Knec chairman George Magoha said exam cheating was now history and warned that anyone still hoping to beat the system had no place in the current arrangement, where a multi-agency team was working round the clock to secure the examinations. He also praised teachers for what he called “a superb job” in preparing learners.
He said those who once relied on shortcuts had been forced to adjust to a tougher environment and were now focusing on teaching and better grades.
