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Ruto moves embattled Education PS Bitok amid schools unrest crisis
PS Julius Bitok (left) has been moved from the State Department for Basic Education, swapping places with his Tourism counterpart John Ololtuaato.
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President William Ruto on Tuesday made key changes in the Education and Tourism ministries, swapping principal secretaries in a surprise reshuffle.
In a communication signed by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the President transferred Prof Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education to the State Department for Tourism, coming months after legislators criticised him over alleged absenteeism, inaccessibility and the handling of key challenges facing the country's schools sector.
Mr John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, who has been serving as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Tourism, replaces him at the State Department for Basic Education.
The changes in the Education Ministry come at a time when many schools across the country have been experiencing student unrest, resulting in the destruction of property and loss of life.
On Monday, Prof Bitok maintained that the school calendar would remain unchanged despite the recent wave of unrest in several schools.
"There are people who are feeling like, well, there is a lot of pressure, but we are saying the school calendar remains unchanged, and we are not going to change the school calendar," he said in Nairobi.
According to the school calendar, learners are expected to break for the mid-term holiday on June 24, although the ongoing unrest has forced some schools to send students home earlier.
Mounting criticism
The reshuffle comes against the backdrop of mounting criticism from MPs, teachers, parents and education stakeholders over challenges facing the sector, including the troubled transition to Grade 10, concerns over teacher distribution, infrastructure deficits and recurring unrest in schools across the country.
Prof Bitok had in recent months found himself at loggerheads with lawmakers, particularly members of the National Assembly Education Committee, who accused him of being inaccessible and repeatedly failing to appear before parliamentary committees to account for ministry programmes and budget allocations.
National Assembly Education Committee Chairperson Julius Melly publicly rebuked the PS over his absence from critical budget hearings, saying lawmakers were "really saddened" by his conduct and condemning what he described as the "casual manner" in which he was carrying out his duties.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah previously branded Bitok the "most clueless PS" during a debate over teacher deployment, accusing the ministry of presiding over inequitable distribution of teachers across the country.
Luanda MP Dick Maungu also accused Bitok of repeatedly snubbing committee summonses, claiming the PS had consistently failed to attend meetings since his appointment.
Mandera South MP Abdul Haro went further, calling for disciplinary measures against the PS and urging Parliament to consider the harshest sanctions available under its Standing Orders.
Challenges at Tourism ministry
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has also been grappling with its own challenges following opposition to plans by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to set aside 89 acres of land within Nairobi National Park for the construction of a new animal orphanage.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga was on Monday arrested after joining hundreds of activists and members of his United Green Movement party in a demonstration opposing the project.
The reshuffle comes as the two ministries face significant challenges, with the government seeking to strengthen leadership and enhance service delivery in the affected sectors.
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