Coast academic giants reclaim glory in KCSE 2025

By Newsflash Reporter

Coast-based academic powerhouses, spearheaded by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Secondary School and Shimo La Tewa Boys High School, posted strong performances in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results.

Scenes of jubilation played out in several schools across the Coast region as national institutions rebounded recallingly after years of inconsistent KCSE outcomes, even as private schools continued to uphold their reputation for steady academic excellence.

National schools stage comeback

In Mombasa County, Shimo La Tewa Boys High School registered marked improvement despite challenges posed by ageing infrastructure compared to other national schools. The institution recorded a mean score of 8.23, signalling a solid overall showing. Of the 413 candidates who sat the examination, 10 achieved straight As while 23 scored A minus grades.

Principal Mathew Mutiso attributed the improved performance to teamwork and shared responsibility, noting that collective effort played a critical role in turning around the school’s academic standing and delivering the commendable results.

At Mama Ngina Girls National School, the 2025 results marked a historic milestone after a candidate attained straight As across all subjects. Principal Mwanahamisi Omar, who has served the school for 26 years, said she had never previously witnessed a candidate score 84 points. She identified the top performer as Yvonne Mona. The second-best candidate, Halima Faud, scored 82 points and revealed her aspiration to pursue cardiology at Harvard University, driven by her desire to help her ailing mother.

Sheikh Khalifa, private schools shine

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Secondary School recorded its strongest performance since its establishment. Out of 212 candidates, 17 attained plain As, 50 scored A minus, while 14 earned C plus grades. Leading candidates Naima Adan Mohammed and Aisha Muthoni Haneef both scored 84 points. Principal Rajab said the results were the school’s best since the era of former Education CS Dr Fred Matiang’i, attributing the success to student ability grouping and personalised learning approaches.

Private institutions also posted impressive results. Light Academy Mombasa achieved a mean score of 8.53, with the top student earning an A minus.

Among the 66 candidates, three scored A minus, eight attained B plus, and five recorded plain Cs. Principal Tamer Ozmen credited the performance to strong collaboration among teachers, learners and parents.

Other private schools, including Abu Hureira Academy and Memon Academy, also registered commendable outcomes. In Kilifi County, Mambrui Private Secondary School recorded an excellent performance, with the top candidate scoring a plain A (81 points) and the second-best earning an A minus (77 points). Principal Halima Omar cited discipline, teamwork and commitment as key factors, while appealing for sponsorship for bright students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Strong county performances

In Kwale County, Kwale Boys High School posted robust results, registering five plain As, 38 A minus, 86 B plus, 131 Bs, 98 B minus, 45 C plus, nine Cs and one C. Principal Martin Mutua said the school attained a mean score of 9.3 and a university transition rate of 97.57 per cent.

Meanwhile, in Taita Taveta County, Kenyatta High School Mwatate achieved a mean score of 8.5, producing seven As and 41 A minus grades out of 359 candidates, translating to a 90 per cent transition rate.

Principal Dominic Maingi credited the achievement to the resilience and dedication of students and teachers despite a strike that occurred shortly before the examinations.

However, not all schools accessed results smoothly. Some institutions reported challenges downloading results due to technical issues with the KNEC portal. Aggrey Boys National School principal Dr Aggrey and Bura Girls High School principal Eunice Wambua said they experienced delays in retrieving their candidates’ results.