Ten counties have recorded a higher number of male candidates than females in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, even as female candidates continued to outnumber males nationally for the second year running.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that out of the 993,226 candidates who sat the KCSE examinations, 492,012 were male, representing 49.54 per cent, while 501,214 were female, accounting for 50.46 per cent.
Despite the overall national advantage for female candidates, significant gender disparities were evident at the county level.
Garissa County recorded the highest imbalance, with male candidates accounting for 66.24 per cent of the total entries compared to 33.76 per cent female candidates.
Mandera followed closely, where 65.09 per cent of candidates were male against 34.91 per cent female. In Wajir, male candidates made up 60.10 per cent, while females accounted for 39.90 per cent.
Turkana County also posted a notable gap, with 57.67 per cent male candidates compared to 42.33 per cent female.
Narok recorded 53.10 per cent male candidates against 46.90 per cent females, while Samburu had 52.43 per cent males compared to 47.57 per cent females.
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Other counties where male candidates outnumbered females include Mombasa, where males accounted for 52.08 per cent against 47.92 per cent females, and Homa Bay at 52 per cent males versus 48 per cent females.
Nyamira posted 51.9 per cent male candidates compared to 48.03 per cent females, while West Pokot recorded 51 per cent males against 48.16 per cent females.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the figures highlight the need for targeted interventions to address regional disparities in access to education, particularly for girls in counties with persistent gender gaps.
He noted that while national efforts have improved overall participation, localised challenges continue to affect enrolment and retention in some areas.
Ogamba said the government is addressing these disparities through expanded infrastructure, teacher recruitment and policy reforms aimed at strengthening inclusivity.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, the government constructed 23,000 classrooms nationwide to support learner transition, while plans are underway to build 1,600 laboratories in senior schools in 2026.
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The CS added that upcoming education reforms will be anchored on a strong legal framework, with a sessional paper and 11 bills set to be presented to Parliament to support equitable access and learning outcomes across the country.
