Fred Matiang’i has hit back at Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale over claims that he messed up the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), dismissing the accusations as “laughable” and blaming the current administration for what he termed as incompetence and chaotic management of the education sector.
The Jubilee Party Deputy Leader said no education system, whether CBC, 8-4-4 or 7-6-3, can succeed under poor leadership, arguing that the challenges facing the sector stem from weak governance rather than curriculum design.
“On allegations that we bungled CBC and now CBE, that’s laughable. They claim there were mistakes, but when asked to specify them, they cannot,” Matiang’i said.
The former Education Cabinet Secretary accused the government of mismanaging reforms he said were deliberately planned and successfully implemented during his tenure, including the flagship 100 per cent transition policy.
“Even the 100 per cent transition, a major milestone achieved through deliberate planning and system reforms, has been badly mishandled and effectively undermined under their watch,” he stated.
Matiang’i maintained that the CBC remains sound, placing blame squarely on the Ministry of Education’s leadership.
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“There is nothing wrong with the CBC. The present challenge is the incompetent and chaotic management of the education sector. It is hopeless implementation,” he said.
He further cited recent remarks by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, saying even government-aligned lawmakers had publicly raised concerns about inefficiency within the ministry.
“In fact, Members of Parliament aligned to government have openly decried the spectacular incompetence of senior officials at the Ministry of Education who are more preoccupied with self-aggrandisement than with the serious business of running the ministry,” Matiang’i added.
The remarks were in response to comments by Duale, who during a Wednesday night interview on a local media station accused Matiang’i of being the architect of a “failed” CBC system, insisting the current administration was fixing the mess and securing President William Ruto’s legacy.
“Aden Duale claims we messed up CBC. That’s simply false. Incompetence is the only thing this government executes with consistency,” Matiang’i said. “When Kenyans rescue this country from incompetence and poor leadership in 2027, we will restore order, professionalism and results-driven leadership in education and government as a whole,” he added.
By Mercy Kokwon
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