The appointment of Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to the Interior and National Coordination ministry in an interim capacity has dealt a blow to his education docket.
Reports indicate that activities at the Ministry of Education are slowing down with a case in point being Monday when an event that Dr Matiang’i was to preside over in Embu County was cancelled at the last minute.
On Monday, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Akelo Misori admitted that activities at the Ministry may slow down.
“The new docket has several challenges that need his attention. Previously the Ministry was Matiang’i and Matiang’i was the Ministry,” said Mr Misori.
He added that the two departments need somebody who is on top of everything and asked the President to appoint substantive Cabinet Secretaries.
The CS has his hands full with the security situation in Lamu and North Eastern as well as ensuring all security procedures are in place ahead of the elections and this seems to partly channel his attention away from education matters.
He is known to be a person who likes to get things done in a systematic manner but handling two vital ministries is no easy task.
Kenyans have been impressed by Matiangi's efforts and want him to retain the sanity that has been restored in the education system but being the President's 'Mr Fix it', he might be the long-term solution to the security situation in the country.
Experts, however, say that since he is only acting, the CS will not abandon education matters but at the Office of the President, he has to receive daily briefs from various agencies, later brief the President and also accompany him to various functions.
