Having just completed my own journey through school, saying I’m overwhelmed with gratitude would be an understatement. Yet, as is often the case with gratitude, my thoughts have also turned to comparison—not just to fellow students who, like me, made it to the end, but especially to those who didn’t. Whether due to inequality, systemic failures, or socioeconomic challenges, many never got the chance to complete their educational journey.

This project is my way of asking: Why don’t some students make it to the finish line? And more importantly, how can we help more of them get there?

• How do KCSE registration and participation rates vary by gender, age group, and county from 2020 to 2024?
• What patterns exist between dropout rates and demographic factors?
• What systemic factors drive these trends, and what can be done?