Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has expressed regret over a recent incident in which he was caught on camera seriously abusing a senior education officer in Uasin Gishu County.
Although he did not give a clear apology, Professor Magoha stated nobody is perfect and asked all public administrators to do their jobs excellently.
“I would like to state without any fear of contradiction that in my life, which is not very young and not very old, I have learnt that nobody is perfect. If anybody has seen a perfect person, you should tell me that person. What drives me is practising Christianity,” he said.
CS Magoha was addressing the press at Yumbisye Secondary School in Kitui Central on yesterday after inspecting the newly obtained desks; he had earlier on visited Manyenyoni Primary School in the same constituency.
“But what I want to tell you and those who have seen us elsewhere is that if you have a job to do please ensure that you do it and you do it in a timely manner. Once you have done your best leave the rest to God,” the tough-talking CS emphasized.
His opinions came at a time when he was under attack for publicly abusing Uasin Gishu County Director of Education Mr Gitonga Mbaka.
In a video clip, which has since spread all over the media, Magoha can be heard abusing and insulting Mr Mbaka and even chased him from the gathering they were having with area education stakeholders.
The act extorted uproar from education officials and leaders in Uasin Gishu County who asked Prof. Magoha to apologize and even resign.
Magoha on Friday suffered a blow after he was stripped off his human resource powers over the incident.
Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Stephen Kirogo, in a circular, stated that all human resource affairs shall henceforth be dealt by Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang until further notice.
“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in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof.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,” read the circular addressed to chairpersons of Public Universities Councils.
The PSC boss termed Prof. Magoha’s actions towards the official as “undignified and unwarranted.”
“Mr 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,” read the letter.
