Only two subjects recorded an improvement in this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, the government has said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the improvement was only noted in English language and Kenyan Sign Language Composition.
Machogu spoke on Thursday while releasing the KCPE exam results at the new Mtihani House in Nairobi's South C.
"Two papers, English language and Kenyan Sign Language Composition, recorded an improvement in performance in the year 2023 when compared with the year 2022," the CS said.
Machogu said there are eight subjects which recorded a slight drop in performance.
"Eight papers, English Composition, Kiswahili, Kiswahili Insha, Kenya Sign Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Religious Education recorded a slight drop in performance in the year 2023 when compared to the year 2022," he said.
In terms of gender, Machogu said the performance of male and female candidates was comparable in Social Studies and Religious Education.
However, he said female candidates performed slightly better than their male counterparts in English, Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign Language.
Male candidates performed slightly better than their female counterparts in Mathematics and Science.
Machogu said this year's top candidate attained 428 marks. He further revealed that only two candidates were involved in exam malpractices.
"One had a note while the other a mobile phone," he said.
The CS said 8,523 candidates scored 400 marks and above compared to last year where 9,443 candidates attained the mark.
Machogu said learners who scored between 300 and 399 represented 24.94 per cent of the total candidature.
This was 352,782 learners compared to 307,756 candidates in 2022.
Machogu said 658,278 learners scored between 200 and 299 marks.
Another 383,025 candidates scored between 100 and 199 marks while ,candidates got between 1 mark and 99 marks.
Machogu further revealed that 9,354 candidates failed to sit the exam and will be given a second chance in January.
