CS George Magoha is today on Wednesday expected to appear at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters to record a statement over an incident in which he is accused of insulting a junior officer.
EACC sent a letter of invitation to Prof Magoha to appear before its officers, David Mutua and Celestine Awiti, and record statement over the incident.
The commission revealed that it is mandated by the EACC Act, 2011 of the Constitution to probe Mr Magoha over breach of code of conduct during his visit to Uasin Gishu County earlier this month.
“The Commission pursuant to its constitutional and statutory mandate…is investigating allegations of unethical conduct touching on Cabinet Secretary of Education [Prof George Magoha] regarding an incident that occurred at Langas Primary School, in Eldoret Town, on or about November 6, 2020, during a tour of the school,” EACC stated in the letter.
The CS received backlash after a video surfaced on social media depicting him berating Uasin Gishu County Education Director Gitonga Mbaka.
In the clip, Prof can be seen heard calling the officer stupid before ejecting him from an impromptu meeting as he sought explanations on why the school was in a filthy state.
The probe by the EACC comes days after the Public Service Commission slashed CS Magoha’s human resource powers and delegated them to his junior Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang.
The PSC cited the obligation to ensure sanity prevails in the public service when it issued a communication for the changes.
“… in view of the recent incident in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorised Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof. George Magoha, 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 read from PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo.
When confronted with the reality of the action of the PSC, the CS came out with a documented defence; conceding that he was not perfect but his approach to duties had born fruits in the sector.
Magoha said that since he took over, the Kenyan child and other education stakeholders had enjoyed the benefits changes that came with his service delivery.
“While I do concede that I am not perfect, in the process of reforms of the magnitude required to improve service delivery in the education sector, I also recognise that this process is bound to generate resistance if tangible results are to be achieved. My management style which has proved successful over the years is walking about at the point of service delivery,” Magoha said.
The CS would then promise to defy the PSC directive as he vowed to undertake his duties normally until directed otherwise by the President.
“Unless otherwise directed by my appointing authority, I shall continue to perform all my duties and responsibilities with zeal and commitment and ensure that all officers in the Ministry of Education perform their duties for the benefit of the Kenyan child, parents and all education stakeholders,” he said.
