Education docket once again goes to a teetotaler from Nyanza

Education CS nominee Ezekiel Machogu. [Elvis Ogine, Standard]

Ezekiel Machogu could be another man to watch in President William Ruto's Administration following his appointment as Cabinet for Education.

Machogu becomes the third individual from the larger Gusii Region to be appointed to the Education Docket which is one of the most powerful dockets in Government.

Machogu unsuccessfully vied for the Kisii Governor seat on the UDA party ticket where he lost to ODM's Simba Arati.

He mounted a spirited campaign for his bid and that of President Ruto despite having complained of harassment and intimidation from state agencies.

During his tenure as MP Nyaribari Masaba (2017-2022), Machogu was credited for having funded several schools in his Constituency to completion.

The Education Docket nominee takes over the Ministry at a time when the Country is facing a defining moment in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

After being sworn in President Ruto said he will put in place a task force to collect views from Kenyans and all education stakeholders on the way forward. His sentiments came after an outcry from parents and other education stakeholders on how CBC was being implemented.

Should Parliament approve his nomination, Machogu will become the third individual from Gusii region to be appointed to Education after Prof Sam Ongeri (2007-2012) and Dr Fred Matiangi (2015). Outgoing Education CS Prof George Magoha took over in 2019 from Amina Mohamed who was moved to Sports.

Ironically, all four; Prof Magoha, Prof Ongeri, Dr Matiangi and now Machogu are teetotalers.