Nobody is perfect, CS Magoha expresses regret over slur on education official

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has expressed regret over a recent incident in which he was caught on camera dressing down a senior education officer during a routine school inspection tour in Uasin Gishu County.

Although he did not offer a clear apology, Prof. Magoha said nobody is perfect and urged all public officials to do their jobs effectively.

“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 practicing Christianity,” he said.

Prof. Magoha was addressing the press at Yumbisye Secondary School in Kitui Central on Friday after inspecting the newly-procured desks; he had earlier on toured 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,” emphasized the tough-talking CS.

His sentiments came at a time when he was under fire for publicly reprimanding Uasin Gishu County Director of Education Gitonga Mbaka.

Prof Magoha was caught on camera scolding the education official last Friday during a routine inspection tour of a school in Eldoret

In a video clip, which has since gone viral, the CS can be heard insulting Mr Mbaka and even dismissed him from the meeting they were having with area education stakeholders.

The incident elicited uproar from education officials and leaders in Uasin Gishu County who demanded for Prof. Magoha’s apology and even resignation.

Prof. 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, said all human resource matters shall henceforth be handled 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in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof.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, in a subsequent statement to the press through the commission’s Communications Director Browne Kutswa, termed Prof. Magoha’s actions towards the official as “undignified and unwarranted.”

“Mr Kirogo noted that the move was in exercise of the Commission’s powers and commitment to protect 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.