NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has instituted with immediate effect portfolio re-assignment and changes in the senior ranks of the executive in a bid aimed at “fostering operational efficiency, institutionalize and expedite the implementation of various ground breaking reforms and introduce functional changes.”
The move is said to make Ministries and State Departments more effective and better able to deliver on their mandates.
According to President Kenyatta, the changes are in recognition of the momentous task of setting the foundation, “for building back better, as Kenya rebounds from the social-economic shocks of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Amongst the shocking changes by the President, is a near ‘overhaul’ of the Education Ministry, one of the bedrocks of the country.
This is a ministry considered a ‘soft spot’ for President Kenyatta and the highest beneficiary of almost every national annual government budget.
In the budget 2020/21, the Education Ministry was awarded Sh497.7 billion or 26.7 percent of the national budget.
A constant in Kenyatta’s near 8 years in office, one person has remained a common figure in the Education Ministry; Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang’.
He was the ministry’s Principal secretary of the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education.
It is also worth noting that during that period, Dr. Kipsang’ was the only PS to retain his position in the same Ministry without being transferred until now.
As the Principal Accounting officer, Kipsang’ has served in his position under four different Cabinet secretaries including; Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Amb. Amina Mohammed and the current Education CS Prof. George Magoha.
During this time, Kipsang’ is considered to be one of the brains behind the wide ray of reforms in the education sector and further tasked with their implementation.
The PS was part of the team that supervised among other reforms, the controversial laptop project deemed by the Jubilee government as one that would usher learners into the 21st century digital world.
The establishment and operationalization of the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), establishment of day wings in boarding schools, gradual increased capitation for learners in primary and secondary schools, waiver of examination fees, efficiency in the administering of national examinations, announcing results and placement of learners.
The most significant reform in which Kipsang was also a crucial part of was the rollout and implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) which favors a continuous assessment as opposed to a national examination championed by the 8-4-4 system.
Education observers however say that with the CBC being one of President Kenyatta’s top priorities and legacy projects, the changes were necessary and timely.
Last week, President Kenyatta unveiled a new state department to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
The new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms within the Ministry of Education has been tasked with the roll of the new education system including recommendations of a taskforce whose report the President launched.
In the changes, Dr. Kipsang has now been transferred to the state department for Regional and Northern Corridor Development.
Also, on the way out of Ministry is controversial Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia who was re-assigned to the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage.
The gap, particularly left by Kipsang’ observers say will no doubt be filled, after Kenyatta appointed Dr. Sarah Ruto as CAS Education and Dr. Julius Jwan as the PS State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education replacing Kipsang’.
“We are at a tipping-point in our education system. The old must give way to the new. The summons of our times requires us to re-imagine how we have educated our children,” the President said.
“A re-imagining and re-assembling of the education ministry is seen as the right move to ensure the CBC is a success.”
Formidable and up to the challenge, Dr. Jwan and Dr. Ruto are considered ‘safe hands’ in actualizing this dream into reality.
The two were first tasked in 2016 while at KICD as Chief Operating Officer and chair of KICD council respectively with forever changing the education sector by introducing a new education curriculum that favoured the 21st century learner, why ushering out the 33-year-old 8-4-4 education system.
With the changes coming into effect immediately, Education CS Prof. George Magoha is set ‘orientate’ the two to continue with the Education reforms that have no option but to succeed.
Other changes made by president Kenyatta in the portfolio re-assignment and changes include the appointment of; Eric Simiyu as CAS national treasury and planning, Jackson Musyoka as CAS labour and social protection, Lawrence Angolo as CAS Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives, Prof. Japheth Ntiba as CAS State Law office and Deprtment of Justice and David Osiany as CAS Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development.
Other changes include Zachary Ayieko as CAS Energy, Alex Mburi as CAS Lands and Physical Planning.
Re-assignment of CAS’s include; Winnie Guchu as CAS Interior and co-ordination of National Government, Gideon Mungaro as CAS Devolution and ASALs, Lina Jebii Kilimo as CAS Public Service and Gender, Hassan Noor Hassan as CAS Ministry of Education Zack Kinuthia Mugure as CAS Sports,Culture and Heritage and Simon Kachapin as CAS Sports Culture and Heritage.
Re-assignment of Principal Secretaries include; Dr. Julius Jwan as PS Early Learning and Basic Education, Andrew Kamau as PS Petroleum and Mining , Francis Owino as PS Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Blue Economy, Julius Korir as PS Devolution, Margaret Mwakima as PS Vocational and Technical Training,Amb. Peter Kaberia as PS Industrialization, Dr, Richard Belio Kipsang’ as PS Regional and Northern Corridor Development and Charles Talengo Sunkuli as PS Youth.
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