IntroductionMany countries across the world value academic performance of the learners and count it as one of the significant indicators of evaluating the quality of education being offered at different levels of education in a country. A study by Oluminde, Olusola and Taofeek (2015) underscored the importance of academic performance among the secondary school students. They assert that the performance of a learner at this level determines the post-secondary institution the learner will join and even the course to pursue in that institution. Most learners who fail at secondary school level may miss opportunities for pursuing various courses which are offered in institutions of higher learning. As Benjamin (2013) points out, failure of learners at secondary school has many far-reaching effects. First, it becomes a source of frustration to the learners. The parents and guardians who commit much of their resources towards education of their children also get frustrated and to some point become desperate when such children fail in academics. Secondly, most sectors of the economy experience inadequacy of skilled manpower consequently causing the overall development of a country to lag behind.In Kenya, sessional paper no. 1 of 2005 (UNESCO, 2011) states that academic performance is integral part of quality education. This has seen the government of Kenya through the ministry of education and Kenya National Examinations Council employ various mechanisms to ensure integrity and honesty in national examinations such as Kenya certificate of primary education and Kenya certificate of secondary education. These efforts ensure that all candidates post a performance which actually reflects their academic ability. In addition, Kenya universities and colleges central placement service has been using KCSE performance scores as the basis of placing learners in various courses in post-secondary institutions. This is an indication that academic performance in Kenya is a very significant factor which will affect both the learners' academic journey as well as the future career of the learner. The much emphasis on academic performance of the learners has prompted researchers to do studies focusing on various factors which relate to academic performance.