Ruto Reassigns Julius Bitok From Education as John Ololtuaa Takes Over Amid School Unrest
Education Updated: 09 June 2026 21:16 EAT
Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok when he embraced his last day of service in the rocket before the cabinet reshuffle
President William Ruto has reshuffled senior government officials in changes affecting the education and tourism sectors, moving Principal Secretary Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education to the State Department for Tourism. In the same changes, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa was appointed the new Principal Secretary for Basic Education.
The changes come at a time when the education sector has been facing growing pressure following a wave of unrest reported in schools across different parts of the country. Several institutions have experienced strikes, destruction of property and disruptions to learning, placing the ministry under renewed public and political scrutiny.
Bitok exits the Basic Education docket after months of overseeing policy implementation, school management programmes and the ongoing government agenda within the education sector. His tenure also coincided with increasing concerns over discipline, student welfare and safety standards in schools.
In recent weeks, the Ministry of Education had publicly ruled out calls for an early midterm break despite unrest cases being reported in several institutions. Government officials maintained that learning remained stable in most schools and that isolated incidents should not interrupt the national academic calendar.
The ministry instead announced a series of interventions intended to restore calm in learning institutions. These included enhanced guidance and counselling programmes, stronger engagement between students and school administrators and a broader review of school safety mechanisms.
Bitok had also called on school heads to adopt dialogue-based approaches in handling student concerns and cautioned against decisions that could escalate tensions within institutions. The ministry indicated that preventive measures would remain a priority to avoid further disruptions.
His reassignment to Tourism places him in a department expected to continue advancing Kenya’s tourism growth agenda, attracting investment and strengthening the country’s position as a regional and global destination.
Meanwhile, Ololtuaa assumes leadership of one of the government’s most closely watched departments at a sensitive moment for the education sector. Expectations are already building around how the new administration will respond to concerns around discipline, safety and continuity of learning.
The incoming Basic Education PS is expected to oversee ongoing education reforms while coordinating responses to challenges affecting schools across the country. Stakeholders will also be watching how the ministry engages learners, teachers and school management teams.
The reshuffle signals continued adjustments within President Ruto’s administration as government seeks to respond to emerging pressures across key sectors while maintaining service delivery and public confidence.
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FELIX MAKONA
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