Ruto Moves PS Bitok to Tourism, Lekakeny to Education in New Reshuffle

Ruto Moves PS Bitok to Tourism, Lekakeny to Education in New Reshuffle

NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has effected a fresh reshuffle within the senior ranks of government, reassigning Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok to the Tourism docket while moving Tourism Principal Secretary John Lekakeny Ololtuaa to the Ministry of Education in a direct swap that takes effect immediately.

The changes, announced on Tuesday, June 9, were communicated through a notice issued by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who said the President had sanctioned the reorganization as part of ongoing adjustments within the Executive.

The reshuffle comes at a critical time for the Ministry of Education, which has been under intense public scrutiny following a wave of unrest in secondary schools across the country. More than 80 schools have reportedly been closed indefinitely in recent weeks after student protests, arson incidents, and disruptions to learning.

In a statement released by the Executive Office of the President, the government confirmed that both Principal Secretaries would assume their new responsibilities with immediate effect.

“His Excellency the President has this afternoon sanctioned re-assignments in the senior ranks of the Executive in the cadre of Principal Secretaries,” the notice stated.

“By dint of the Presidential action, Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok, PhD, CBS, has been re-assigned from the State Department for Basic Education, Ministry of Education, to the State Department for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, while Mr. John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, CBS, has been re-assigned from the State Department for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, to the State Department for Basic Education, Ministry of Education,” the statement added.

The latest changes have attracted significant attention because they come amid mounting concerns over school safety and discipline, issues that have dominated the education sector in recent months.

Prior to his reassignment, Bitok had been at the forefront of the government’s response to the growing cases of school unrest. He repeatedly defended the national school calendar and insisted that learning schedules would not be altered despite calls from some stakeholders to allow students an early break.

The outgoing Basic Education PS recently linked some of the unrest to academic pressure and examination-related anxiety among learners.

Speaking on June 6, Bitok urged school administrators to adopt a more consultative approach when dealing with students and academic assessments.

“We have told the school principals and teachers not to force students to do exams. They should negotiate with them. If they are not ready, even for mock exams, they should talk to the students. It is better for exams to be postponed than to force them, because by morning, they may have burned down the school,” Bitok said.

“We must ensure we listen to these learners. They have something to say,” he added.

Only hours before the reshuffle was announced, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki disclosed that senior Ministry of Education officials, including Bitok, had briefed him on the status of safety and security in schools during a high-level government meeting.

According to Kindiki, the government is implementing immediate, medium-term, and long-term interventions aimed at addressing the rising cases of student unrest while improving safety standards in learning institutions.

For John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, the move to the Education Ministry presents a new challenge after serving in the Tourism docket, where he oversaw government efforts to boost visitor arrivals and strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading tourism destination.

The reshuffle marks the second major reorganization of Principal Secretaries within a month.

In late May, President Ruto reassigned Kello Harsama from the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development to the State Department for Petroleum. Following that move, Caroline W. Karugu was designated Acting Principal Secretary for ASALs and Regional Development while retaining her substantive role as Principal Secretary for East African Community Affairs.

Political analysts view the latest reshuffle as part of President Ruto’s broader effort to strengthen service delivery and enhance performance across key government departments as his administration seeks to address emerging challenges in critical sectors.

With the education sector facing heightened scrutiny and tourism remaining a vital contributor to the country’s economy, attention will now shift to how the newly reassigned Principal Secretaries navigate their respective portfolios and deliver on the government’s priorities in the months ahead.

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Ruto Moves PS Bitok to Tourism, Lekakeny to Education in New Reshuffle