Magoha Stripped Off His Powers by PSC After Humiliating and Insulting a Ministry Official, Calling Him “Stupid”
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has withdrawn all the power vested on CS Education Professor George Magoha to manage the human resource in the public sector.
The PSC delegated the power to manage human resource within the education sector to the Permanent Secretary for Basic Education Dr. Belio Kipsang, with immediate effect.
This means that the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education Richard Belio Kipsang, will take charge of all human resource matters in the ministry.
PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo in a circular addressed to chair of Public Universities Councils and copied to the Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua on Friday, November 13, said all human resource matters requiring the attention of the Public Service Commission shall henceforth be handled by Dr. BelionKipsang as the authorized officer of the ministry until further notice.
Kirogo also 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.
“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in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof.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,” the circular reads.
Cabinet Secretaries as Chief Executive Officers of Ministries and State Departments are designated as Authorized Officers exercising delegated powers and functions of the Public Service Commission in the management of the human resource under their purview.
In the circular, the Commission further implores upon all Authorized Officers to act in a manner that is consistent with provisions of the Constitution, applicable statutory requirements, regulations, policies, guidelines and manuals for effective management of the public service including public Universities.
Education Cabinet Minister (CS) George Magoha kicked off a storm after he was caught on camera last week scolding a senior ministry official in front of colleagues and primary school pupils.
The incident, which took place andt Langas Primary School in Eldoret town, is the latest in what is becoming a disturbing trend of the minister humiliating his juniors in public.
During last week’s incident, Prof Magoha snarled at the Uasin Gishu County Director of Education (CDE) Gitonga Mbaka over the state of Langas Primary School.
“Nikisema wewe ni mjinga ni uwongo (Would I be lying if I said you are foolish?),” exploded the exasperated Magoha.
Mbaka’s crime? The CS found the school untidy and the county education boss had to answer for it.
And the CS was not done yet. According to parents who were present, Magoha ordered teachers to collect rubbish in the school compound in full view of their pupils.
Quite humiliating
“It was quite humiliating, but we had no option but to abide by the directive,” one of the teachers told People Daily.
Yesterday, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) demanded an apology from the CS, accusing him of disrespecting education officials.
Addresing a press conference in Nairobi, Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba protested that the CS’s conduct was unbecoming of a senior public official, let alone one who sets and directs policy on education in the country.
He condemned Magoha’s outburst in Eldoret, saying the CDE, Dr Mbaka, is a distinguished educationist of many years’ standing, having taught for 25 years before taking up the job as inspector of schools in the last decade.
Dr Mbaka is due to retire next month.
“Last week, during an impromptu inspection of Langas Primary School, the minister referred to the CDE as a ‘fool’.
From the clip of the incident, it is clear that Magoha did not fully grasp the import of Mbaka’s contribution at the briefing the minister held,” said Milemba
“Sadly, instead of listening to what Mbaka, his officer on the ground, had to say, Prof Magoha called him a ‘fool’ for the second time and ordered him out of the meeting,” Milemba observed.
The union’s Uasin Gishu branch secretary, Elijah Maiyo, also demanded an apology from the CS for humiliating an official in public and teachers before their pupils.
“The government does not hire fools as insinuated by the CS in reference to the county director of education. The county director and teachers are not fools and whoever thinks so is wrong,’’ Maiyo said.
