By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 13 June 2026 - The government's decision to transfer former Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok from the Education Ministry to the Tourism docket will do little to stem the growing wave of unrest sweeping schools across the country, former Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu has said, in remarks that raise fresh questions about the state's handling of one of the most pressing challenges facing the education sector.
Speaking in Vihiga on Saturday, Chanzu dismissed the administrative reshuffle as a cosmetic intervention that risks masking deeper structural problems affecting learners, teachers and school management.
His comments come at a time when student unrest has once again become a national concern, with incidents reported in several counties and education authorities struggling to explain the causes behind the disturbances.
According to Chanzu, changing personnel at the top of the ministry may create headlines but will not address the frustrations driving students to protest.
"Transferring Bitok to the Tourism Ministry will not find a solution to student unrest but create more confusion," he said.
The former legislator argued that policymakers in Nairobi risk losing touch with realities on the ground if they continue relying on reports and briefings instead of engaging directly with learners.
Addressing members of the Vihiga County Students Network, Chanzu challenged Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and senior ministry officials to leave their offices and conduct extensive consultations with students, teachers and parents.
He said the current unrest should serve as a warning sign that something deeper may be wrong within learning institutions.
"You cannot understand what students are going through from an office in Nairobi. Go to the ground and get first-hand information," he said.
His remarks reflect growing concern among education stakeholders that authorities may be focusing on administrative responses while failing to interrogate broader issues such as student welfare, mental health, academic pressure, discipline, technological influences and changing social dynamics.
Political analysts note that Chanzu's intervention is significant because it shifts the debate from individual accountability to institutional accountability.
Rather than blaming one official, he is asking whether the education system itself is adequately listening to the voices of learners.
The former MP also widened his criticism beyond the education sector, taking aim at sections of the public service whom he accused of failing to support President William Ruto's development agenda.
In unusually blunt remarks, Chanzu suggested that some government officers had become complacent and were undermining the President's efforts to deliver on campaign promises.
"The President appointed people in good faith to help run government, but some have let him down," he said.
"Some government officers are lazy. They are only chasing payment at the end of the month but not helping the President fulfil his promises to Kenyans."
The comments highlight a growing debate within political circles over the pace of implementation of government programmes nearly four years into the Kenya Kwanza administration.
While President Ruto has continued to roll out ambitious reforms across sectors, critics and supporters alike have increasingly questioned whether all government departments are moving with equal speed in translating policy into tangible results.
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For Chanzu, the unrest witnessed in schools may be symptomatic of a wider governance challenge in which decision-makers are becoming detached from the realities facing ordinary citizens.
However, he was quick to note that responsibility for discipline cannot rest solely with schools and government institutions.
He called on parents to reclaim their role in shaping the values and behaviour of young people, arguing that discipline begins at home long before children enter the classroom.
The former MP said efforts to restore order in schools would require a collective approach involving families, teachers, religious leaders and policymakers.
At the same time, he challenged Members of Parliament to make better use of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to keep vulnerable learners in school.
"It is a shame for bright students to drop out of school and yet MPs have NG-CDF," he said.
His remarks touched on another recurring concern within Kenya's education sector — the growing number of students struggling to remain in school because of financial hardship despite the existence of multiple government support mechanisms.
Chanzu also used the platform to encourage young people to embrace opportunities in the digital economy, urging them to take advantage of government initiatives supporting content creators and online entrepreneurs.
With formal employment opportunities remaining limited, he said digital innovation offers an alternative pathway for thousands of young Kenyans seeking economic independence.
Yet it was his warning on school unrest that carried the strongest political message.
As pressure mounts on the Ministry of Education to explain the latest disturbances, Chanzu's remarks are likely to amplify calls for a comprehensive national inquiry into what is happening in schools.
His argument is simple but politically potent: the government cannot reshuffle its way out of a crisis whose causes remain poorly understood.
For now, the administration faces a difficult balancing act — restoring calm in schools while convincing parents, teachers and learners that it understands the frustrations bubbling beneath the surface.
Whether officials choose to heed Chanzu's call for a ground-level fact-finding mission could determine whether the current unrest fades away or develops into a larger challenge for the education sector.
As schools continue to grapple with sporadic disturbances, the central question remains unanswered: are policymakers treating the symptoms, or are they prepared to confront the root causes of Kenya's growing student discontent?