Updating earlier reports of capacity-driven rejections, the Ministry of Education has rejected 143,821 Grade 9 students' applications to transfer to senior secondary schools for Grade 10 under KJSEA 2025, citing unavailable subject combinations or lack of space. Of 355,457 total applications processed by December 29, 211,636 were approved, placing 88% of students per their preferences, Minister Julius Ogamba said.
Initial placements for the 1.13 million KJSEA 2025 candidates ran from December 14-19, 2025, with transfer requests accepted from December 23-29. An interim update on December 28 noted 66,000 rejections out of 183,000 processed requests, mainly due to over-demand at top schools.
Ogamba's final figures show heightened demand, with elite national schools like Alliance, Kenya High, and Mang’u receiving up to 20,000 applications each despite only about 500 spots. Students could submit up to four choices.
Dissatisfied students can reapply from January 6-9, 2026. All report to assigned schools by January 12, 2026. Results are on the placement portal.
