National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has sharply criticised Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, accusing him of failing to understand what is happening in schools across the country.
Speaking during the second day of the National Assembly Members’ Retreat in Naivasha, Ichung’wah said the PS was out of touch with the real challenges faced by learners, teachers, and school administrators.
Ichung’wah pointed to serious imbalances in the education system, especially in the deployment of teachers.
He questioned why some schools with very few students have many teachers while nearby schools with hundreds of learners struggle with staff shortages.
According to him, such gaps show poor planning and weak supervision at the ministry level.
He blamed the situation on senior officials who rarely leave their offices in Nairobi to see problems on the ground.
He accused the PS of taking a relaxed approach to these issues, saying he had not made enough effort to visit schools and understand their needs directly.
Ichung’wah urged education officials to spend more time in the field, listen to teachers and parents, and take action based on real conditions rather than reports written in offices.
He added that once the ministry shows seriousness, Parliament would be ready to support it with more funding to fix the problems fully.
On the issue of school fees, uniforms, and lunch programs, Ichung’wah advised Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba to use a Gazette Notice to set clear limits. He explained that Parliament cannot put school fees into law, but the CS has the power to gazette approved charges.
This, he said, would stop school heads from overcharging parents under unclear rules.
He also raised concern about lunch programs, which he described as a major source of corruption in schools. He noted that schools within the same area charge very different amounts for lunch, putting an unfair burden on parents. He said this problem affects many constituencies across the country.
After Ichung’wah’s remarks, PS Bitok responded indirectly by posting a photo on his Facebook page with the caption, “On the ground! On call! On duty!” suggesting he was actively working.
During the same retreat, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo criticised CS Ogamba for failing to respond to her calls and messages about issues in her constituency.
She questioned why elected leaders are ignored and expressed frustration over being left out of official activities in her area.
Lawmakers at the forum called on education officials to improve communication and focus on practical solutions that address the real challenges facing the education sector.
