John Lekakeny Ololtuaa is a Kenyan public servant who, until Tuesday, June 26, 2026, was the Principal Secretary for Tourism.
In a mini-reshuffle, President William Ruto moved John Ololtuaa to the State Department of Basic Education, swapping roles with Ambassador Julius Bitok.
Early life of John Ololtuaa
John Lekakeny Ololtuaa was born in Kilgoris District, Trans-Mara West Sub-County in Narok County.
He attended Sosio Secondary School and later joined Narok High School, where he sat for his KACE certificate.
Ololtuaa has a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Kenyatta University and a Master’s in Education Administration from the same institution.
He kicked off his career as an assistant teacher in 1993, before serving as the Principal of Ennosaen Secondary School.
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As a passionate educationist, Ololtuaa rose through the ranks to become a District Education Officer responsible for Suba, Mbita, and Bomet Districts.
He was later promoted to the rank of a County Director of Education for Bomet and Kajiado Counties.
He ended his illustrious career in the Ministry of Education after serving as a Regional Director of Education responsible for the Eastern, Nairobi, Rift Valley, and Central Regions.
How Ololtuaa joined politics
Following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and the advent of the devolved system, Ololtuaa was appointed as the County Transition Coordinator in charge of Narok County.
He is passionate about Youth Counseling Programs and the fight against Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
In 2022, he unsuccessfully vied for the Kilgoris Parliamentary seat, losing to former Internal Security Minister Julius Sunkuli.
President William Ruto appointed Ololtuaa as the principal secretary in the State Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, Culture and Heritage.
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As the PS, he was in charge of Tourism Promotion, policy formulation, and Development of the Tourism industry in Kenya.
School Fires Consume Bitok
Ololtuaa is rejoining the Ministry of Education as the country witnesses a wave of student unrest that has forced some principals to close the institutions.
Prof. Bitok had ruled out early closure of schools, maintaining that learners would take their midterm break on June 24.
The unrest has left a trail of destruction and deaths.
At the Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, students reportedly set a dormitory on fire, killing at least 16 learners in a suspected arson attack.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested 9 students as prime suspects in the tragedy.
Bitok took over from Dr. Belio Kipsang, who had served in the same position during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.
Kipsang is currently the PS for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services in the Ministry of Interior.
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