In a dramatic showdown at the National Assembly Members’ Retreat in Naivasha, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah publicly labeled Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok as “the most clueless PS in the Ministry of Education,” accusing him of being completely out of touch with the realities in schools across Kenya.
The fiery attack highlighted deep frustrations among lawmakers over what they see as a detached and ineffective leadership at the Ministry’s highest levels.
“Get Out of Your Office in Nairobi”
Ichung’wah didn’t mince words, calling out the PS for a “nonchalant approach” and failure to visit schools to witness challenges firsthand.
“Why would a school with 100 students have 28 teachers and the school next door has 600 students without teachers?” he demanded.
“You have the most clueless PS in the Ministry of Education. He only sits in Nairobi and has no idea what is happening on the ground.”
Ichung’wah challenged the Education Cabinet Secretary, Migos Ogamba, to take charge:
“Get out of your offices in Nairobi, go to the ground and deal with the problems there. Then challenge this House to get the Ksh.48 billion for you from the budget and we deal with the problem once and for all.”
School Fees & Lunch Programs: “Bedrock of Corruption”
Turning to the contentious issue of school fees, Ichung’wah advised the CS to use a Gazette Notice to cap charges instead of waiting for legislation.
“You have danced around the issue of uniform and circular for school fees. We cannot legislate on fees… What you do, tomorrow, CS go and gazette the school fees that ought to be there.”
He also pointed to school lunch programs as a major source of graft:
“That is the bedrock of corruption in schools. You’ll find a school that charges Ksh.3,000 for a lunch program, others charge Ksh.8,000, Ksh.9,000—and they’re in the same locality.”
“Why Don’t You Pick Your Calls?”
Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo joined the criticism, directly confronting CS Ogamba for being unreachable.
“Why don’t you pick your calls? I don’t call you for anything personal. When I call you, I’m a representative of the people… How do you go to my Constituency to do a foundation stone without involving me?”
Bitok’s Cheeky Response
In a swift and subtle clapback, PS Bitok later posted a photo on his Facebook page with the caption:
“On the ground! On call! On duty!” — a move seen as a direct, if diplomatic, rebuttal to the “absent” label.
What Now?
The confrontation underscores a growing rift between Parliament and the Education Ministry over resource equity, accountability, and communication.
With MPs demanding practical engagement over bureaucratic detachment, pressure is mounting on PS Bitok and CS Ogamba to step out of Nairobi and into the classrooms they are meant to serve.
