Bitok Shifted Amid School Crisis as President Reassigns Principal Secretaries
By Ongaga Ongaga
Kenya’s ongoing crisis in schools has taken a new twist following President William Ruto’s reassignment of two Principal Secretaries including Basic Education’s Julius Bitok.
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In a move announced by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, Amb. Prof. Bitok was transferred from the State Department for Basic Education to the State Department for Tourism, while John Lekakeny Ololtuaa was moved in the opposite direction.
The reshuffle comes at a time when unrest in elite schools has dominated headlines, with fires, strikes, and questions over discipline and values shaking the education sector.
Bitok, who had been at the helm of Basic Education, recently made remarks acknowledging the depth of the crisis.
“We cannot ignore the fact that our schools are facing challenges that go beyond academics. Discipline, values, and the environment in which our children are learning must be addressed urgently,” he said.
He noted that learners should be engaged in matters including freedom to choose when to do exams, a remark that did not sit well with many stakeholders.
Observers see the reassignment as both a political and administrative signal.
By moving Prof. Bitok to Tourism, the President appears to be recalibrating leadership in the education docket at a time when public confidence has been shaken.
Ololtuaa, who now takes over Basic Education, inherits a sector under intense scrutiny and pressure to restore order.
Koskei’s statement emphasized that the changes take effect immediately, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
For many parents and educators, the timing of the reshuffle suggests the government is keen to inject fresh energy into the ministry as schools grapple with unrest.
