At least twice during his three and a half years as Cabinet Secretary for Education under Uhuru Kenyatta, George Magoha considered leaving, highlighting his reputation as one of the most ethical ministers in Kenya under Kenyatta.
Prof. Magoha, who passed away last week, resigned in part due to an incident involving the rescinding of Prof. Stephen Kiama’s appointment as vice chancellor at the University of Nairobi by the then Education Cabinet secretary, who announced the decision in a gazette notice.
Once, Magoha considered leaving his position. He felt that he had been put under the bus when a decision that had been taken was later reversed. ‘I had to call Prof. Kiama to the office, and we had a little chat,’ recounted former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho on Tuesday.
When Dr. Kibicho went to express his condolences to Magoha’s family in Nairobi, he made these remarks.
What he failed to mention was that Magoha had also considered resigning from the Uhuru Cabinet the year before.
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He had reclined, his gaze coldly fixed on the letter before him. Both angry and flustered, the Education Cabinet secretary exploded.
A letter notifying the CS of a misdemeanor and stripping him of some positions within the Education ministry came from then-chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Stephen Kirogo in November of 2020.
Magoha was not only expected to sign the letter, but also to respond to it.
A few days earlier, during an examination of Langas Primary School in Eldoret town, the CS had publicly scolded Gitonga Mbaka, the director of education for Uasin Gishu County at the time.
To call you a fool would be an untruth, right? The CS’s harsh criticism of the official had infuriated the nation and the education community in particular.
An insider said Magoha’s opponents took advantage of the situation to publicly shame him.
The CS said in a huff, “How could he undercut me?” after his mood had plummeted and his ego had been damaged. The Executive’s organizational chart places the PSC chair below the CS level.
It has come to light that the current CS was nearly deposed because to machinations involving senior members of the Executive engaged in under the previous government.
According to the source, Magoha said, “I would rather resign from Cabinet than be ordered by a junior.”
Magoha considered signing the letter despite his earlier promise not to fight Kirogo. He felt like he was under attack.
I visited his office and discovered him deep in thought. Prof. Simon Gicharu, chairman of the National Association of Private Universities in Kenya, recalled, “He asked me if he should sign the letter.
After their argument, he had talked to him and a few other people.
While in Magoha, Prof. Gicharu discussed restarting medical training institutions to aid in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even in this bleak climate, Magoha’s enthusiasm for learning was palpable, and he wanted to see the medical schools restored as soon as possible.
Is it better to stop training soldiers during wartime or to train more? Prof. Gicharu remembers that Magoha inquired of him.
The CS, however, had limited influence over the presidential order to close schools. But the letter’s contents continued to hang over Magoha’s thoughts like a veil.
He was really fed up with the administration. He told me that a junior officer giving commands to his seniors only occurs in a broken administration,” Professor Gicharu continues.
If the letter had come from Kinyua [Head of Public Service], I would have responded. Not coming from a fellow employee.'”
In retrospect, he recalls asking the CS if the President, as the appointing authority, had discussed the matter with him, and the CS responding that the President had not.
I told him to hold off till his employer told him, he says. A strong Cabinet member, Magoha would say, was responsible for all of his problems.
There is no such thing as a “junior” or “senior” minister in my eyes. Magoha had stated dismissively to his coworker, “We are all equal.”
According to Business Daily, an anonymous source claims that Magoha was singled out because of “the passion with which he tackled his work” and that some of his coworkers were making an effort to “slow him down.”
But the CS was indefatigable and impossible to withstand. People can be dishonest if they try to give the impression that they are working harder than others. Magoha said our informant, “They do not want to be outdone.
Magoha was unwavering when asked if he would apologize to Dr. Mbaka after receiving pressure from education advocates across the country.
The answer is “No, not at all. There was nothing I didn’t do with the intention of helping students and schools. The CS defended himself by saying, “If people don’t like my [leadership] style, they should focus on the results.”
Professor has previously reprimanded Dr. Mbaka for suspected lack of personal cleanliness at Langas Primary School.
But the CDE wasn’t the only education official who got the short end of Magoha’s temper during his controversial tenure.
Mercy Karogo, chief executive officer of the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), and the previous principal secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education were also targets of Magoha’s public shaming.
The CS criticized Mr. Stephen Barongo, regional director of education in Kakamega County, during a regular inspection, saying that he was in the wrong role.
Meanwhile, education officials at Jogoo House, the ministry’s headquarters, and county directors of schools have accused Magoha of intimidating and threatening them on numerous occasions.
The death of former Education CS George Magoha, 71, has been reported.
However, Magoha’s friends and family insist that he meant no damage by his blunt manner of discussing topics. Further, he was not a grudge holder.
That was the last time he would admonish you, once he did. Prof. Gicharu claims the issue would be resolved if he wasn’t so passionate about his work and therefore impatient with others.
Without Magoha’s (now-deceased) response to Kirogo’s (now-deleted) letter, the issue would have continued to fester.
Recently retired Dr. Mbaka expressed no animosity toward the late Prof. Magoha.
I have no problems with the past tense. He owes me nothing as he is my superior in authority. Honest and brave, he served his country with distinction. Dr. Mbaka expressed to the Business Daily his hope that his patient’s soul will find peace.
