By Our Reporter
A climate of discontent has hit the Ministry of Education following radical changes in terms of transfers or demotions effected on several county directors across the country.
The exercise has generated a significant amount of heat with some considering resigning to avoid what they consider as humiliation.
One bitter officer narrated painfully that he had been sent to the Regional Director of Education’s (RDE) office without clear assignments.
“This is very painful. I don’t know the criteria used to demote some of us yet we have worked very hard as public servants to serve our country. It’s very unfair of them to treat us like this and we hope these decisions will be rescinded,” said the officer.
Under the changes, Kajiado County Director of Education (CDE) Pius Kosgey has been transferred to Embu County in similar capacity. He will be replaced by Martin Cheruiyot who has been in charge of Kwale County.
Joseph Ole Maki, who has been a Sub-County Director in Keiyo North, has been promoted to a full director and deployed to Marsabit CDE. He will take over from Titus Mbatha who has been posted to Embu County to lead education initiatives.
James Ongachi, who has been a Sub-County Director of Education in Nairobi, has been promoted and posted to Elgeyo Marakwet as CDE. He will succeed Kituyi Masibo who has been taken to the neighbouring Baringo County in a similar capacity.
Kirinyaga CDE David Radeny has been transferred to the Nyanza regional director’s office. He had occupied the office for a short stint having been appointed to replace Didacus Odhiambo who retired.
A similar fate befell West Pokot CDE Francis Shikanda, a former high school head teacher, who has been deployed to the Western Regional Director’s office. His replacement was not immediately clear.
Also hit by the new turn of events is Elizabeth Otieno who has been the Central RDE. She has been recalled to the Ministry headquarters for assignment of duties. She has reportedly been replaced by Rose Aroni, the Nyeri CDE. She will now be deputized by Peter Munene who has been the immediate former Kisumu CDE.
Aroni’s previous position will be occupied by Ann Njogu who has been the Narok CDE and will be replaced by Apollo Apuko who has been the education boss in the neighboring Bomet County.
Apuko will be replaced by one Ndung’u who has been plucked from the Rift Valley RDE’s office.
Among those demoted are Siaya CDE Nicholas Oyucho will now proceed to the Nyanza RDE’s office together with Boniface Ouko who has been the Nyamira CDE .
Ouko has been replaced by Zachary Mutuiri who has been Nandi CDE. Mutuiri will be replaced by Harisson Muriuki who has been the CDE for the adjacent Uasin Gishu County.
Also in the same quagmire are Josephine Olela who has been CDE Turkana who will operate from Western RDE’s office, Rose Sagalla who has been Kericho CDE will head to Nakuru to work from the RDE’s office and Nancy Afwande, the Busia CDE, has been sent to Eastern RDE’s office in Embu.
Afwande’s place will be taken over by James Ekalia who has been promoted from a Sub-County director to a full director. Until his appointment to full CDE, Ekalia was in charge of remote Kibish Sub-County in Turkana County.
Sagalla has been replaced in Kericho by one Ngonesh who has been a Sub-County Director for Marakwet West.
Also promoted is Trans-Nzoia CDE Luke Chebet who has been deployed to the Coast as RDE. Nairobi RDE Fredrick Kiiru has reportedly been transferred to Eastern in similar capacity. The latter is said to be nearing his retirement.
Margaret Lesuuda, who has been at Jogoo House, has been redeployed back to the field this time as the Nairobi RDE. She had earlier served in Eastern region in a similar capacity.
Stephen Barongo, the Western RDE, has now been recalled to Jogoo House to head the Basic Education directorate which has been under the leadership of Nereah Olick who is said to be heading for retirement.
Eastern RDE Dr. William Sugut has also been recalled to the Ministry headquarters to take over as the Director in charge of Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education News has learnt that more changes are looming to replace directors as well as for Sub-County directors across the country.
