Turkana and Kilifi lead in number of older KCPE candidates

The number of over-age Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination candidates increased this year, the Kenya National Examinations Council has said.

According to an analysis of the results released on Monday, 32,515 candidates aged 19 and above did the tests, compared to 30,306 in 2017.

Ideally, these learners should have completed their secondary schooling. A majority of KCPE examination candidates are aged 13 to 15.

Knec said 125,502 candidates aged 17 to 18 sat the examination while 15 and 16-year-olds were 411,059; those aged 14 were 323,559, 13-year-olds were 152,329 while 15,747 pupils aged 12 registered for the tests.

Among those who sat the examination was a 68-year-old woman, Veronica Kaleso, from Makueni County.

Turkana County had the highest number of over-age candidates at 3,470 while Kilifi had 3,238 candidates aged 19 and above.

Last year, Turkana County had 3,199 over-age candidates while Kilifi had 2,618.

Garissa County had 2,057 such candidates. The number was 2,099 in 2017.

Last year, candidates aged 12 were 16,021. Three years ago, the government said under-age children should not be allowed to sit the tests.

According to the policy, a child should be enrolled in Standard One when he or she is at least six years.

Bungoma County had the highest number of under-age candidates at 1,652 this year. In 2017, the number was 1,570.

Mandera had the lowest number of under-age candidates at 70.

Eight special needs candidates scored more than 400 marks out of a possible 500 while 209 got 301 to 400 marks.

The ministry said 701 such candidates scored between 201 and 300 marks, 1,412 had 101 to 200 marks while 76 scored 100 and below.

This year, 589 prisoners sat the papers compared to 543 in 2017.