By Staff Reporter
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has been stripped of powers of managing the human resource functions at the ministry over ‘idiot slur’.
In a circular dated 13th November 2020 from Communication Director of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Mr. Browne Kutswa, the commission delegated Magoha’s previous powers to the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr. Belio Kipsang.
“The Public Service Commission (PSC) has withdrawn the power to manage the human resource functions it had delegated to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Prof. George Magoha, with immediate effect. In his place, the Commission has designated the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang, to be in charge of all human resource matters in the ministry,” read the statement.
PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo in a circular addressed to chairpersons of Public Universities Councils and copied to the Head of Public Service Dr. Joseph Kinyua on 13th November 2020, said all human resource matters requiring the attention of the Public Service Commission shall henceforth be handled by Kipsang as the authorized officer of the ministry until further notice.
Kirogo noted that the move was in the exercise of the commission’s powers and commitment to protecting public servants against undignified and unwarranted attacks, reiterating that the execution of delegated authority is designed to foster public confidence and maintain the integrity and dignity of the public service.
“The purpose of this general letter is to inform you that in view of the recent incident in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof. George A. O. Magoha, CBS and delegated the said powers to the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang, CBS with immediate effect,” the circular reads.
Cabinet Secretaries as Chief Executive Officers of Ministries and State Departments are designated as Authorized Officers exercising delegated powers and functions of the Public Service Commission in the management of the human resource under their purview.
In the circular, the Commission calls upon Authorized Officers to act in a manner that is consistent with provisions of the Constitution, applicable statutory requirements, regulations, policies, guidelines and manuals for effective management of the public service including public universities.
The development comes in light after the CS in a 30 second video clip that went viral insulting the Uasin Gishu County Director of Education Gitonga Mbaka after visiting the county on Friday 6th November 2020 while being surrounded by other officials to assess the learning and delivery of desks in various schools.
After assessing the state of one of the school he visited and unhappy with the answers he received, the CS insulted the County Director in front of other officials and the media ordering him to get out of his meeting.
“Nikisema wewe ni mjinga ni uwongo (Would I be wrong if I say you are stupid). You are talking about a report and I’m talking about what is here on the ground. You can go, I said you get away from here, wewe ni mjinga kabisa (You are very stupid),” said Magoha.
The video clip created a lot of unrest among Kenyans on social media who strongly criticized Prof. Magoha over his act, most notably Prof. PLO Lumumba who said that “Prof. Magoha, with due respect, you should not humiliate an Officer in this manner.
However, speaking during his visit to Kyamutheke Primary School in Machakos on Wednesday 11 November 2020, Magoha pointed out that nobody should be surprised at how he does things as he was also in KNEC where he made things work, adding that he is just looking at the best interest of parents and children.
“Nobody should be surprised at how I do things, I was in KNEC. I made things work and now I am here to protect the interest of parents and children. Anytime I cannot do that I have no business being here,” said Prof. Magoha.
