The top KCPE candidate in 2019 has scored 440 marks, a drop from the top marks in 2018 which was 453. Andy Micheal Munyiri of Damacrest school of Thogoto has led the way this year, followed by three other candidates who have tied on 439 marks at position two. The three are Flavian Onyango from Chakol Primary School, June Cheptoo Koech from Sang’alo Central primary school and Michael Ndung’u of Kitengela International School.
Releasing the results at the KNEC headquarters, Education CS Prof. George Magoha said there was general improvement this year, although the number of candidates who scored 400 marks and above dropped this year to 9,770 from 11,559 last year. He said there were better performance this year in 4 of 6 subjects-English, Swahili, sign language and Social Studies-and a slight drop in performances in Mathematics and Science.
Female candidates performed better than their male counterparts in English, Swahili and sign language while boys performed better in Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. 18 Counties registered more female candidates compared to the male candidates and they include Kakamega, Vihiga, Kiambu, Siaya, Kisumu, Trans Nzoia among others. He noted that girls are competing favorably with the boys for the top academic honors, “Perhaps it’s about time we also started thinking of the boy child,” said Magoha.
Candidates who scored above between 401 and 500 marks are 9,770, 301 marks 400 marks are 243,320, 201 to 300 marks are 556,886, 101 to 200 marks are 262,307 and 0 to 100 marks are 1,173. Moreover, 2,407 candidates with special needs sat for the exam with the first candidate scoring 414 marks. 211 candidate scored between 300 and 400 marks. CS Magoha said the government will continue availing and implementing interventions that will help special needs children to access and do well in their education.