By Anthony M. Wanjohi:
The release of KCPE 2016 marked a new beginning of “honesty” in national examinations after years of exam cheating in Kenya. Exam cheating has been associated with the need to be seen as the best, especially in private schools for the purpose of attracting enrollments. In an effort to curb the exam cheating, ranking of schools was stopped. However, parliament passed a law in August, 2016 reverting to school and candidate ranking in national exams.
During KCPE 2016 results release, Dr. Matiang’i did not however rank the schools and candidates citing late passage of the law. The following is however the ranking of KCPE 2016 results by county in Kenya:
| No. | County | Mean Score |
| 1 | Kirinyaga | 274 |
| 2 | Elgeyomarakwet | 271 |
| 3 | Makueni | 267 |
| 4 | Nandi | 267 |
| 5 | Uasingishu | 266 |
| 6 | Busia | 266 |
| 7 | Nairobi | 265 |
| 8 | Baringo | 265 |
| 9 | Kisumu | 265 |
| 10 | Tharakanithi | 262 |
| 11 | Westpokot | 262 |
| 12 | Kakamega | 261 |
| 13 | Vihiga | 259 |
| 14 | Kajiado | 258 |
| 15 | Homabay | 258 |
| 16 | Siaya | 258 |
| 17 | Nyeri | 256 |
| 18 | Bomet | 256 |
| 19 | Machakos | 251 |
| 20 | Turkana | 251 |
| 21 | Kericho | 251 |
| 22 | Samburu | 250 |
| 23 | Transnzoia | 250 |
| 24 | Narok | 250 |
| 25 | Bungoma | 249 |
| 26 | Migori | 248 |
| 27 | Embu | 247 |
| 28 | Nyamira | 246 |
| 29 | Nyandarua | 245 |
| 30 | Kiambu | 244 |
| 31 | Kiambu | 244 |
| 32 | Nakuru | 244 |
| 33 | Meru | 242 |
| 34 | Kisii | 242 |
| 35 | Murang’a | 240 |
| 36 | Laikipia | 240 |
| 37 | Marsabit | 239 |
| 38 | Kitui | 233 |
| 39 | Isiolo | 227 |
| 40 | Kilifi | 226 |
| 41 | Kwale | 218 |
| 42 | Taita Taveta | 217 |
| 43 | Wajir | 212 |
| 44 | Lamu | 211 |
| 45 | Tana River | 207 |
| 46 | Garissa | 183 |
| 47 | Mandera | 183 |