CS Magoha stripped off powers to manage human resource, PS Kipsang given role

Education Cabinet Secretary, Prof. George Magoha will no longer manage workers in his Ministry. This follows a move by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to withdraw the power to manage the human resource functions it had delegated to him. Magoha has been in the limelight, lately, for all the wrong reasons after a video of him insulting a junior officer at the Ministry went viral online.

In his place, the Commission has appointed the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang, to be in charge of all human resource matters in the ministry with immediate effect.

PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo in a circular addressed to chairpersons of Public Universities Councils and copied to the Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, said all human resource matters requiring the attention of the Public Service Commission shall henceforth be handled by Dr Kipsang as Authorized Officer of the Ministry until further notice.

Mr Kirogo noted that the move was in exercise of the Commission’s powers and commitment to protect public servants against undignified and unwarranted attacks, reiterating that the execution of delegated authority is designed to foster public confidence and maintain the integrity and dignity of the public service.

“The purpose of this general letter is to inform you that in view of the recent incident in the Ministry of Education relating to the role of the Authorized Officer, the Commission has in the meantime withdrawn the delegation of its powers and functions from the Cabinet Secretary, Prof. George A. O. Magoha, CBS and delegated the said powers to the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Richard Belio Kipsang, CBS with immediate effect,” the circular reads.

Cabinet Secretaries as Chief Executive Officers of Ministries and State Departments are designated as Authorized Officers exercising delegated powers and functions of the Public Service Commission in the management of the human resource under their purview.

In the circular, the Commission calls upon Authorized Officers to act in a manner that is consistent with provisions of the Constitution, applicable statutory requirements, regulations, policies, guidelines and manuals for effective management of the public service including public Universities.

The abrasive CS Magoha will now take a back seat even as heat builds to have him sacked from the Ministry.