President William Ruto has transferred Education Principal Secretary Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education to the Tourism docket. The move, announced Tuesday evening, comes just weeks after a wave of unrest rocked secondary schools across the country.
The President also moved Mr. John Lekakenyo Oloitua from Tourism to take over the Education ministry. The changes were announced by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei and take effect immediately.
Many parents and education stakeholders say the transfer is not a surprise. For months, complaints had been growing about how Prof. Bitok handled the school chaos. Students staged protests, properties were damaged, and learning was interrupted in several institutions. But according to critics, the PS did not act fast enough.
One of the biggest concerns was communication. During the height of the unrest, the ministry appeared to suggest that principals should sit down and negotiate with students. Many parents and teachers felt this sent the wrong message. They wanted firm action, clear orders, and quick control, not more talk.
Another issue was inconsistency. Some schools received immediate attention while others were left to struggle. Questions were also raised about who was really in charge during the crisis. Principals complained that they were left carrying too much responsibility without clear support from the top.
Perhaps the harshest criticism came from ordinary parents. One frustrated parent was quoted as saying, "The public wanted to see a solution to the ongoing unrest, but he did not bring any. He went on like it is business as usual."
Some political analysts are calling the reassignment a clear demotion. A few went further, saying it is a sign that the Professor may be completely shown the door soon.
For now, all eyes are on Mr. Oloitua, the new Education PS. Stakeholders say they want to see faster emergency responses, clearer commands during school unrest, and better coordination between the ministry and school heads. Parents just want their children to learn in safe schools.
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