Baringo National School’s Peter Otieno replaces him at Maseno
By Fredrick Odiero
National schools heads have lauded the Government’s move to promote Mr. Andrew Odhiambo Buop who was at the helm of Maseno School to the diplomatic corps.
The chief Principal of Baringo National School Mr. Peter Otieno who is an alumnus of the prestigious Mangu School has been posted to Maseno School to take over from Buop who is proceeding on diplomatic mission abroad.
Led by the national schools heads’ forum chairman Mr. Casper Maina who is also the chief principal of Nairobi school, they said elevation of Mr Buop to the position of education attaché in Washington DC was a great honour to the teaching fraternity.
Maina who was speaking during the heads’ forum in Kisumu said more educationists should be appointed into top positions in the government.
Nyanza regional teacher’s service commission director Mr. Stephen Ajanga confirmed that Buop had been promoted to the position of deputy director.
Confirming his appointment during heads forum Buop said he was indeed destined to Washington DC for a four years term.
Education cabinet secretary Professor George Magoha said Buop is one of the education managers who have dedicated a lot of time and energy to the advancement of education in the country.
Magoha said a number of chief principals have either been appointed to positions in government or the diplomatic corps.
“We are still looking around if we can still find more to appoint even though education officers will quarrel me “he said.
Buop thanked the members of the forum for the support they have accorded him for the entire period he has been with them.
Buop joined Maseno School from Homa Bay High school in 2018 when former principal Paul Otula was sent on compulsory leave over alleged students’ negligence.
In 2018 when Buop took over, the institution took some 480 students to public universities and recorded a mean score of 9.099.
Christopher Khaemba the former Chief Principal of Alliance High school is also among educationists who have risen to top ranks.
Khaemba went on to become the inaugural dean of the African Leadership Academy in South Africa.
He also served as an education advisor in the office of the Prime Minister from 2012 to 2013.
Simon Nabukwesi who is currently the principal secretary State Department for University Education and Research has had a stellar career in the teaching profession from 1989 to 2000.
He was the former principal at Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma County.
He later undertook diplomatic duties, serving as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Canada and the country’s envoy to Cuba.
His eleven years of service as a diplomat led to his elevation to the Commonwealth Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In February 2020, he was appointed as the PS in the Ministry of Education by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Cleophas Tirop who is synonymous with transforming Kapsabet Boys into an academic powerhouse served as the boss of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association before being selected as the principal of Nairobi school in 2010.
Due to his academic success, Tirop was appointed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
He then retired after two years at the commission.
University don Professor Laban Ayiro rose to become a renowned scholar and is currently the Vice Chancellor at Daystar University.
Before Joining Daystar, Prof Ayiro was the Acting VC, Moi University.
He is a former principal of several high schools including Sunshine Secondary School in Nairobi as well as Lubinu Boys High School in Mumias East.
He was then moved to the Ministry of Education’s head office in Nairobi, where he served in different capacities, including Provincial Director of Education, Deputy Director of Staff Training and Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning.
The good professor currently possesses five degrees from distinguished universities.
Another notable teacher who rose through the ranks is Daniel Karaba who served as Senator for Kirinyaga County from 2013 to 2017 after clinching the seat on The National Alliance party ticket.
However, prior to that, he served as a deputy principal and later a principal in various schools in Kenya including, Kagumo High School, Highway Secondary School, Kianyaga High School, Kirimara High School, Njegas Secondary School.
He also served as the chair of Secondary Schools Heads Association between 1984 and 1998.
The former principal then ventured into politics in 2002 and won in his first elections, clinching the Kirinyaga Central parliamentary seat on a NARC party ticket. In 2007, he would lose the seat to John Kariuki.
