Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha was on Friday stripped off his human resource powers over a slur against an official in Uasin Gishu County recently.
A letter from the Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Stephen Kirogo, has directed that all human resource matters 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in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof.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.
In another letter addressed to the Press, the PSC boss, 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, Cabinet Secretaries as Chief Executive Officers of Ministries and State Departments are designated as Authorized Officers exercising delegated powers and functions of the Public Service Commission in the management of the human resource under their purview. In the circular, the Commission calls upon Authorized Officers to act in a manner that is consistent with provisions of the Constitution, applicable statutory requirements, regulations, policies, guidelines and manuals for effective management of the public service including public Universities.”read the letter
Prof. Magoha came under heavy criticism after a video of him giving Uasin Gishu County Director of Education Gitonga Mbaka an embarrassing dress down and referring to him as an “idiot” went viral.
