The 2018 KCPE results placed Moi Primary School Kabarak in Nakuru at the centre of the Rift Valley’s strongest showing, with Asanga Leonard Munayi emerging as the region’s top candidate on 451 marks.
Munayi’s score put him among the country’s best four candidates. Nationally, Rawlings Odhiambo Aketh of Kakamega Hill School and Olive Mwea Wachira of Riara Road Primary led the field with 453 marks each, while Mogusu Victor Momanyi of Emmanuel Springs Academy in Makueni followed on 452.
Moi Primary School, Kabarak, is part of the wider Kabarak education complex, which also includes a high school and a university. In the Rift Valley, other high scorers included Kiptoo Calvin Kiprono of St Marks Preparatory School in Nandi with 445 marks, Fleon Ogutu of Gilgil Hills Academy and Wanjohi Ivy Nyambura of High Peak Junior Academy, Naivasha, with 443 each, and Nancy Wangui Kamau of Faith Junior Academy on 441.
Otwori Annita Moraa of Little Friends Academy and Augustine Migwi of Radiance Academy in Nakuru School each scored 439, while Callen Kwamboka Siocha of Westways School and Barthlomew of Nyahururu Highway Academy had 438 apiece. Levis Misocha Orina of Molo Academy and Anari Ryan Giggs of St Peters’ Elite School, Gilgil, each finished on 437.
Elsewhere in the national rankings, Mwangi Ashley Wambui of Kutus Municipality Primary School in Kirinyaga County scored 447. Joshua Angwekwe of Rudan Junion Academy and Njue Chantal Njeri of Thika Road Christian School each had 446, while Ngetich Ryan Kipkurui of Whitestar Academy, Namisi Sharon Namikoye of Tender Care Academy and James Sewe of St Peters Cape View each posted 445.
Njagi Ronnie Gathuku of Effort Junior School Kerugoya in Kirinyaga, King’ori Karleen Njeri of Riara Road Primary and Njoroge Karanja of Makini each scored 444. Those on 442 included Alvin Gikunju of PCEA Kahawa Sukari, Dorothy Hadassah of Genesis Preparatory School in Kisii, Njonje Jefferson Amukhono of Marel Academy in Bungoma, Kevin Manyansi of Makini School in Nairobi, Debra Gakii of Kathigiri Boarding and Hilary Muriungi Fred’s Academy in Meru County.
Private schools again dominated the top end of the results, extending a pattern that has persisted for years. The source of that imbalance was traced in part to the introduction of free primary education in 2003, which expanded enrolment in public schools without a matching rise in teachers and facilities.
Overall performance improved compared with previous years. A total of 12,273 candidates scored 401 marks and above, up from 9,846 in 2017 and 5,143 in 2016. Those scoring 301 marks and above rose to 228,414, compared with 217,307 in 2017 and 207,141 in 2016. At the lower end, 2,177 candidates scored below 100 marks, down from 2,360 and 6,747 in the previous two years.
Candidates with special needs also posted stronger results, with the top scorer reaching 446 marks, above last year’s 426. The release came in under three weeks, reflecting the Kenya National Examinations Council’s push for faster turnaround and tighter control of the process.
In earlier years, KCPE results were often released after Christmas, about two months after the exam and more than a month after marking. That delay, the report noted, created room for corrupt officials at Knec to alter grades for cash. Quick marking and early release were among the measures introduced in 2006 under then Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to strengthen credibility and curb theft in the system.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed announced the results at Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa. She said the tougher rules had made a difference and confirmed that only four candidates had their results cancelled for irregularities.
“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”.
Form One selection was scheduled to begin on December 3, with successful candidates expected to report to secondary school in January. The ministry said the selection would be done once, without the second round that had been used in the past.
The 2018 exam also showed a continued rise in female participation. Out of 1,052,364 candidates, 525,070 were girls, representing 49.90 per cent, while 527,294 were boys, or 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 in mathematics, science, social studies and religious education, while girls performed better in English, Kiswahili and Sign Language. Another concern was the 8,347 candidates who did not sit the exam, a figure that, although 14 per cent lower than last year’s 9,726, remained troubling because it could point to dropout or double registration.
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 securing the exams around the clock. He also praised teachers for what he called “a superb job'' in preparing learners.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry would audit school infrastructure to establish the real state of facilities and guide future investment in resources and equipment.
