The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Collins Oyuu has welcomed the nomination of Julius Migos Ogamba as Education Cabinet Secretary.
Oyuu, who spoke in Ugunja, Siaya county on Saturday, said the education sector is not a walk in the park, but expressed confidence that Ogamba would succeed through consultations with all the stakeholders.
He thanked President William Ruto for nominating Ogamba, saying he can turn around the sector’s fortunes.
“We are however warning him that it will not be easy. Let him get prepared,” Oyuu said.
The eyes of all Kenyans including parents, teachers and learners will be on the new CS nominee, he said, urging Ogamba to ensure funding to schools and other educational institutions is adequate and released on time.
He spoke at Nyasanda primary school grounds in Ugunja sub-county, during the Siaya branch annual general meeting. Branch executive secretary Alex Dunga was present.
However, the union’s second national vice-chairman Aggrey Namisi faulted the President for Ogamba’s nomination.
Namisi said the nominee may not have the necessary background to run the ministry, given its many challenges.
“We have no problem with the nominee as a person but we feel the education sector needs someone with a clear background in the sector who would not need orientation,” he said.
Ogamba is a lawyer by profession. Namisi said the docket needs a CS who will quickly fit and drive the required transformation.
Implementation of the CBC was at a critical stage and required a CS with some background in matters of education.
The Kenya Kwanza administration had done half of its term and with two years to go, a CS who is not an educationist would take time to settle in.
Namisi also faulted Ruto for nominating an ally of former CS Ezekiel Machogu.
Ogamba was Machogu’s running mate for the 2022 Kisii gubernatorial race, which they lost.
“It appears as if the nominee is just coming to stand in for the former CS and continue what was going on,” Namisi said.
He spoke in Eldoret during the 17th AGM for Knut’s Chepkoilel branch, while accompanied by officials led by executive secretary Sammy Bor.
Ogamba is awaiting vetting process in Parliament before being sworn in to take full charge of the education docket.
