2019 KCPE achievers make comeback four years later in 2023 KCSE exam

However, a few names from the 2019 KCPE achievers' list make a comeback in the list of top performers in the 2023 KCSE exam.

This could mean that most KCPE top scorers fade into obscurity by the time they sit KCSE -- the final exam in secondary school, which determines which university or course a student is placed in.

Koech Jeptoo June made one of the most remarkable comebacks in this year's KCSE exam.

In the 2019 KCPE exam, Jeptoo scored 439, emerging the top female candidate nationally. She shared the position with two others.

She was the second-best student nationally, earning herself a coveted spot at Pangani Girls' School.

This week when the results of the 2023 KCSE exam were released, Jeptoo's name was once again among the high achievers.

Although she did not emerge the best girl nationally, she maintained her academic prowess, after scooping an A-, a remarkable feat that placed her among the top students in the country.

In the 2019 KCPE, the top student scored 440 marks. However, by the time of going to press, Saturday Standard was yet to establish his final score in the KCSE exam.

According to the 2023 KCSE examination results, 9,686 candidates scored Grades A and A-.

Out of this, 1,216 candidates scored A and another 8,470 got A-.

Jeptoo's story is not unique as a handful of other former KCPE stars have also made impressive comebacks in last year's KCSE exam.

Naibei Dyleen Yego, is another notable name that made a return to the leader board of the national examination.

Jamhuri Boys High School's top students Phillip Ndinda (A) and Malcolm John (A-) celebrate the results of KCSE 2023 at the school premises in Nairobi on January 8, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Mohamed Ahmed, a former student of MM Shah Primary School in Mombasa where he scored 408 marks also managed to be among the top performers in the 2023 KCSE exam. He scored an A at Light Academy, Mombasa.

Kamau Peter Macharia, also a KCPE star in 2019 who scooped 407 marks at Bethlehem Academy in Kiambu this time scored an A-.

Even as the top performers celebrate their wins, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu raised concern over an increase in the number of low grades.

According to the results, some 48,174 students got Grade E.

Machogu instructed the Directorate of Quality Assurance to work with other field officers and teachers to investigate the E Grade cases in each county for further action.

"I am pained by the fact that a large number of candidates (48,174 or 5.33 per cent) still ended up scoring a mean grade of E in the 2023 KCSE examination even after the ministry used a more flexible system of computing the final overall candidate results," Machogu said.

In the 2023 KCSE examination, a total of 899,453 candidates sat the test; 450,554 were male, while 448,899 were female.

And for the first time, Machogu indicated that Mathematics had registered a performance improvement.

In total, 12 subjects recorded a significant performance improvement. These subjects were Mathematics, Kiswahili, Biology, Biology for the Blind, CRE, Business Studies, German, Music, Chemistry, Building Construction, French and Electricity.

On the other hand, 14 subjects declined in performance compared to results posted in the 2022 KCSE.

These include English, Kenyan Sign Language, Physics, Computer Studies, History & Government, Geography, IRE, Agriculture, Home Science, Wood Work, Metal Work, Power Mechanics, Drawing & Design and Art & Design.