293,869 KCSE candidates secure university, college slots as KUCCPS releases placement results

A total of 293,869 students who sat for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations have secured slots across degree, diploma and certificate programmes in universities, technical and vocational institutions (TVETs).

Speaking during the release of the placement results on Wednesday, Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said 202,133 students had been placed in degree programmes out of the 270,508 candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above.

Additionally, 28,246 applicants have been placed at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), 500 secured placement in a diploma in law and paralegal studies at the Kenya School of Law (KSL), 765 were placed at Kenya Utalii College, while 875 joined secondary Teacher Training Colleges (TTC).

Ogamba also revealed that 8,915 students who qualified for degree programmes from the 2025 KCSE examinations opted for non-degree programmes and were placed in tertiary institutions.

He said some eligible students did not apply for placement because they pursued alternative education and training pathways, including self-sponsored programmes and other options outside the KUCCPS portal.

“For example, they might have joined the disciplined forces for training or enrolled in self-sponsored programmes in universities and colleges that did not go through the KUCCPS portal. Still, some of them may have missed the opportunity to apply because of other circumstances,” Ogamba said.

He noted that KUCCPS would conduct a study to establish the whereabouts of students who did not apply for placement and create an opportunity for those who missed the process to apply.

“I’ve requested KUCCPS to come up with a study program to track and find out where these students are. But if some missed the opportunity to apply for any other reason, we are going to give them a chance to reapply. We have directed the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service to immediately devise a mechanism to allow late applications for placement,” he said.

He urged eligible candidates who did not submit applications during the placement cycle to take advantage of the upcoming opportunity.

“I call upon all eligible candidates across the country who may not have applied, and those who may have missed the opportunity to apply during this concluded cycle, to take advantage of this opportunity and apply. The clarion call, ladies and gentlemen, is that no student should be left behind as part of career alignment,” Ogamba said.

He emphasised that the placement cycle had recorded growth since the government introduced centralised university and college placements through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) in 2014.

He noted that during the first placement exercise in June 2014, KUCCPS placed 72,338 students compared to the 293,869 learners placed in the latest cycle.

The CS dismissed reports suggesting that the number of students being placed had dropped to a seven-year low, saying such claims were inaccurate.

“We have moved from 72,000 to almost 300,000 being placed today. I wanted to repeat that because I saw somewhere that the number of students who are being placed has gone down to a seven-year low. That is a fallacy, and would encourage those who come up with such stories to please do a bit of research before you put pen to paper and tell people things that only exist probably in the imagination,” Ogamba said.

He commended the KUCCPS board and management for supporting students in their academic and career decisions, saying the government remained committed to expanding access to quality education and training.

He said the government had allocated the education sector the highest budget in the current financial year, with Sh784.5 billion set aside for the sector.

“This is the highest allocation to any sector this financial year. So, again, for those who are saying that education is being starved of funding, they do not have their numbers right,” he said.

He added that the government had continued expanding higher education opportunities through the establishment of new institutions. He cited the Bomet University College, which was awarded a charter by President William Ruto in February, making it Kenya’s 36th fully chartered university.

He also noted that two public constituent colleges had been established in the last financial year, including Makueni University College and Kerio Valley University College in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

“This college is set to receive its students this year through or during the transfer period,” he said.

The CS further said the government had expanded specialised higher education and research institutions, including the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which received charters in May.

“These institutions focusing exclusively on research, AI, robotics, cyber security and specialist medical and engineering fields are expected to add impetus to Kenya’s journey to the Singaporean dream through groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technology,” Ogamba said.

He said the new institutions, together with existing public universities, had increased opportunities for Kenyans seeking higher and specialised training.

According to Ogamba, the Commission for University Education (CUE) approved 327,157 vacancies in 43 public universities and 33 private universities for the 2026/2027 academic year.

To access their placement results, students will be required to log into the KUCCPS portal using their KCSE index numbers to confirm the institutions and courses they have been assigned.