Unions right to demand educationist at the helm

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Migosi during the 2022 Kisii gubernatorial campaigns. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has faulted the nomination of Julius Ogamba as Cabinet Secretary of Education. Some unionists argue that Ogamba is not an educationist and, hence lacks requisite training to be effective in running the docket.

Additionally, they read mischief in the fact that Ogamba was former Education CS Ezekiel Machogu's running-mate in the 2022 Kisii gubernatorial contest. They therefore see his nomination to take over the Ministry of Education as a continuation of Machogu's lame leadership.

These concerns are valid and cannot be swept under the carpet. However, should his nomination be approved, Ogamba can pull it off if he listens to, and regularly consults the ministry's Principal Secretary, technocrats, teachers' union officials and other stakeholders. Unfortunately, past experiences with holders of this office tell a different story.

Education is a key sector of the economy that requires steady hands at the helm. But as fate would have it, the sector has been under siege and its operations appear to be moving south. The CBC curriculum was pushed through only to encounter unforeseen obstacles. Where Junior Secondary School (JSS) should be domiciled remains unclear. The hiring of teachers for JSS is haphazard, without a clear direction.

Since Kenya Kwanza took the reins of power, capitation has become the conflict point between head teachers and the Ministry of Education over not just delays, but cuts in capitation. Teachers' unions and the Teachers Service Commission have consistently worked at cross-purposes, hardly agreeing on anything.

These are some of the issues that demand immediate attention from the new CS. To succeed in streamlining operations in the sector, it is important to have someone who thoroughly understands the dynamics of the education sector. A situation where individuals are given ministries to run just to satisfy a constitutional requirement or for political expediency is a disservice to Kenyans.