In a surprising turn of events, the Kenyan government has announced a significant reshuffle in its administrative ranks, with long-serving Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Kipsang Belio swapping positions with his Immigration counterpart, Dr. Julius Bitok.
The transfers, effective immediately, were outlined in a press release signed by the Head of Civil Service, Felix Koskei, as part of a broader government reorganization aimed at enhancing service delivery and efficiency.
Dr. Belio, a seasoned administrator who has been at the helm of the Basic Education docket for several years, is widely credited with steering critical reforms in Kenya’s education sector. His tenure saw the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), a trans-formative shift from the traditional 8-4-4 system, alongside efforts to improve infrastructure and access to education across the country.
His move to the Immigration Department is seen as an opportunity to bring his wealth of experience to a key security and administrative portfolio that oversees citizenship, border control, and migration policies.
On the other hand, Dr. Bitok, who has been instrumental in modernizing the Immigration Department, will now take the reins at Basic Education.
During his time at Immigration, Dr. Bitok spearheaded initiatives to digitize passport and visa processes, reducing bureaucratic delays and enhancing Kenya’s global travel framework.
His transfer to the education sector is expected to inject fresh perspectives, particularly in leveraging technology to address challenges such as teacher shortages and the ongoing CBC roll-out.
The swap has sparked mixed reactions among stakeholders. Education sector players have expressed optimism about Dr. Bitok’s technological expertise, while others have raised concerns over the loss of Dr. Belio’s institutional memory.
In the immigration sphere, Dr. Belio’s appointment is viewed as a strategic move to strengthen border management amid rising regional security concerns.
Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat has been appointed Principal Secretary in the newly created State Department for Science,Research and innovation which has been split from Higher Education currently held by Beatrice Inyangala. This,therefore implies that the Ministry of Education will be headed by three Principal Secretaries.
Prof. Shaukat is the current Director for the Division for Africa, at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He is the former Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation CEO, a position he held between for six years (2008-2014).He has over 30 years working experience as Professor and administrator at university, leader and advisor on matters related to Science Technology and Innovation.
Additionally, he served as a Vice-Chancellor of Umma University and Deputy VC at Egerton University, ex-chair of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Board member of Kenya Medical Research Institute and also member of the Kenya National Economic Social Council.
He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences. He has published widely in international journals, scientific conferences, and symposium proceedings.
In his release, Felix Koskei emphasized that the reassignments is driven by the need to harness the opportunities within emerging sectors of the economy, as well as address challenges affecting Kenya’s social fabric.
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“These changes are designed to harness the unique strengths of our senior officials to meet emerging national priorities,” Koskei noted. Both Principal Secretaries have been directed to report to their new stations immediately and ensure a seamless transition.
As Kenya navigates complex domestic and international challenges, this reorganization underscores the government’s intent to adapt its leadership to the demands of the day. All eyes will be on Dr. Belio and Dr. Bitok as they embark on their new mandates.
By David Kipkorir
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