President William Ruto has made fresh changes in the senior ranks of the Executive, reassigning two Principal Secretaries in a move affecting the Education and Tourism sectors.
In a statement on June 9, the Office of the President said the changes involve the transfer of Principal Secretaries between the State Department for Education, held by Julius Bitok, and the State Department for Tourism, held by John Ololtuaa.
“His Excellency the President has this afternoon sanctioned re-assignments in the senior ranks of the Executive in the cadre of Principal Secretaries,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the latest changes take effect immediately and are expected to influence the leadership and administration of two key government departments responsible for education and tourism development.
Also Read: Govt Confirms Mid-Term Dates Amid Pressure for Early Break
President Ruto’s New Sanctions
| Principal Secretary | Previous Assignment | New Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok | State Department for Basic Education | State Department for Tourism |
| John Lekakeny Ololtuaa | State Department for Tourism | State Department for Basic Education |
Profile of the New PS for Basic Education John Ololtuaa
John Ololtuaa served as Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the State Department of Tourism within the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
He was in charge of Tourism Promotion, Policy Formulation, and Development of the Tourism Industry in Kenya. He is an educationist who began his career in education in 1993.
Olultuaa attained his Bachelor of Education (Arts) Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration, both from Kenyatta University.
Also Read: COFEK Turns Up Pressure on Commission in Bid to Remove Education PS Julius Bitok
John has served as County Director of Education for Bomet and Kajiado Counties and also served as a Regional Director of Education.
He has previously served in the Transition Authority overseeing Kenya’s transition to the Devolved System of Governance. He served as the County Transition Coordinator for Narok County.
John Ololtuaa is a mentor of the youth, supporting several youth development initiatives across the country.
In 2020, he participated in the Global Schools Partnership Program, implemented by the British Council.
The program is aimed at developing learning Partnerships between schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
John Ololtuaa is a transformative leader who believes in the ideals of strategic management and high standards of professionalism, transparency, integrity, and accountability.
COFEK Push for PS Bitok’s Removal from Office
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) to initiate the constitutional process to remove Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok from his position.
In a petition dated June 2, COFEK listed six reasons it believes justify his dismissal, including allegations of gross misconduct, incompetence, abuse of office, violation of constitutional requirements on public finance management, and behavior considered unbecoming of a state officer.
“COFEK has today formally petitioned the Public Service Commission (PSC) raising six grounds on which it urges the PSC to initiate the constitutional process for the removal from office of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, Amb (Prof) Julius Bitok,” wrote COFEK in a statement.
The organization emphasized that the role of a Principal Secretary must remain subject to accountability under the Constitution and should not be protected from scrutiny.
It added that the petition is motivated by public interest and the need to maintain integrity within the education sector.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
