By Fridah Mbuvi, June 11, 2026
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has officially handed over the leadership of the State Department for Basic Education to his successor, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, following recent changes in the senior ranks of government ordered by President William Ruto.
The transition comes after a presidential action notice issued by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei directed a swap of Principal Secretaries that took effect immediately. Under the changes, Bitok moves to the State Department for Tourism, while Ololtuaa leaves the tourism docket to take charge of Basic Education.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Bitok thanked teachers, development partners and other education stakeholders for their support during his tenure and expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to steer the department.
Ololtuaa, a trained educationist, assumes office at a critical time for the education sector, which is grappling with a wave of student unrest and school fires that have forced the closure of several institutions across the country.
He also inherits key challenges surrounding the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), particularly concerns over the funding, staffing and management of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
The leadership changes are part of a broader executive reorganization aimed at strengthening service delivery across government ministries and departments.
Bitok’s move to the tourism sector and Ololtuaa’s return to the education docket are expected to bring fresh perspectives to both departments as the government seeks to address emerging challenges and implement key policy reforms.
