Just like Michuki rules, will Dr. Matiang’i’s education reforms be discarded upon his departure from the ministry?

Everybody is congratulating the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Education. Fred Okengo Matiang'I, the current Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Kenya. Matiang’i can only be compared to the Tanzanian president in his efforts to streamline the Kenyan education system.

He ensured teachers were teaching and spending money on projects as required. He ensured kids had a proper Christmas holiday and he released their exam results on time. He proved that passion and will power are all that is needed in the Kenyan government hence it is okay to conclude that the Cabinet Secretaries who are not delivering should emulate the education CS.

Unfortunately good things do not last long in Kenya. Look at the number of accidents that happened on Kenyan roads this December and the one in Naivasha was really heart breaking. One begs the question; didn’t the late minister of transport, Michuki put structures in place? He streamlined the public transport sector. Touts and drivers were behaving but with the demise of Michuki, the structures he introduced have been sidelined. The same modes of transport are also used by thugs to rob and even beat up passengers and other road users. They do this knowing they are not held accountable. If only there was a snake to be rattled.

Uncle Moody turned around our prisons. Prisoners now can watch television, have conjugal visits and can even graduate. Who has introduced something new? 

CS Matiang’i just like the late Michuki is a pioneer of change. Kenyans finally have someone they can look up to amidst the dark corrupted halls of power.

It would be unfair not to mention another CS who has marketed Kenya and as a result, we have hosted international summits. CS Amina Mohammed whose name was recently forwarded for the consideration as AU chair. We owe international conferences and summits plus visits by heads of states to her.

There are good ministers who give their best but the problem is as soon as they are out it will be like they never existed. Cartels will be back in business, darkness will continue to reign. What if the best performing ministers would be retained no matter the government of the day? Or what if ministers who do not have anything to show were sent home?

All in all, we need consistency to ensure that what other cabinet secretaries have started will be passed on and be made even better.