By The EastAfrican More by this Author Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent home the Sports minister in a mini Cabinet reshuffle just days after reading the riot act to his government over mega corruption scandals. In an executive order released on Friday morning the President replaced Mr Rashid Echesa with Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed. "In accordance with Article 152(5) of the Constitution, as read together with Article 152(1)(d) of the Constitution, the appointment of Mr Rashid Echesa Mohamed, as a Cabinet Secretary has been vacated," the executive order reads. Also dismissed from her post is Information Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi. Mr Echesa joined politics in his twenties and was once a close ally of opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga. He later decamped to the ruling Jubilee party in 2016. Advertisement He appointed Minister for Sports, Culture and Heritage on January 26, 2018. Promotion President Kenyatta has nominated the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) chairman Prof George Magoha to take over from Ms Mohamed as the Education minister.<doc-sep>14 SHARES Share Tweet NAIROBI, Kenya, March 1 – Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been sacked in a mini reshuffle effected by President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday morning. In the changes outlined in Executive Order 3 of 2019, President Kenyatta said Echesa’s appointment had been revoked under Article 152 (5) of the Constitution. The government shall be reorganized as set out in this Executive Order; the portfolio responsibilities and changes made in the structure of government set in this order shall come into immediate effect, and Executive Order 1 of 2019, is further amended accordingly,” President Kenyatta stated. Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed was moved to the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Arts with Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chairperson George Magoha named the Education Cabinet Secretary-designate, pending his vetting and approval by the National Assembly. The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi has been at the centre of key reforms in the education sector since his appointment in March 2016, working with then Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to curb rampant exam cheating. Magoha’s term at the KNEC due to end this month, the surgeon and consultant urologist terming his three-year term a huge success in recent remarks. “Everything that I touch with these hands is blessed. We sat together and agreed that there was going to be a multi-sector approach to the management of examinations. This has been provided. If you are to judge us, judge us with what can be measured,” he said. The performance of the dethroned Sports Cabinet Secretary has been put to question on several occasions, President Kenyatta moving two key parastatals from his ministry just six months after he appointed him to office. The two State agencies – Kenya Film Commission (KFC) and Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) – were moved to the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology under Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. President Kenyatta said the changes were in line with the authority conferred on him under Article 132 of the Constitution outlining the function of his office to include coordinate government functions and the need to ensure State departments deliver on national values as set out in Article 10 (2). The Head of State also noted to align his administration to deliver his four-fold agenda of food security, manufacturing, affordable housing, and universal healthcare. He said the reorganization was necessary to “embed operational enhancements and functional changes that shall make Ministries, State Departments and State Agencies better able to deliver on their mandates.” In other changes effected on Friday, the appointment of Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication, Fatuma Hirsi, was also vacated with no immediate replacement named. Hirsi, who headed the State Department of Wildlife, had previously been sacked before her reinstatement as Broadcasting and Technology PS. Principal Secretary Susan Mochache was also moved from the State Department of Cooperatives under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, to Health. Susan Koech was moved from the State Department of East African Community Affairs to the State Department of Wildlife. Dr Margaret Mwakima who headed the Wildlife docket under the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism was moved to the State Department of East African Community Affairs. Peter Kiplagat Tum was moved from Health to the State Department of Labour. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Dr Ibrahim Mohamed was moved from Mining to State Department of Environment and Forestry with Ali Noor Ismail who headed the docket moving to the State Department of Cooperatives.<doc-sep>
New Sports, Culture and Heritage CS Amina Mohamed has reacted hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta moved her from the Education docket. Through her official Twitter handle, the former Education CS thanked the Head of State for giving her the opportunity to serve in his Cabinet and graciously accepted her new role. She also congratulated Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chairman Prof George Magoha on his nomination to head the Ministry of Education and had special praise for all those who assisted her in making reforms in the sector. “It is with humility and high honour that I thank His Excellency @UKenyatta for according me the opportunity to serve as CS @ForeignOfficeKE, CS @EduMinKenya and now as CS @moscakenya. “I congratulate my colleague in the sector @ExamsCouncil Chairman Prof. George Magoha on his nomination to @EduMinKenya. I thank all the sector players and development partners for their tremendous support throughout my headship at the Ministry,” wrote the new Sports CS. She further added: “Together, we made huge strides in deepening the sector’s Reform Agenda. We delivered credible 2018 national examinations, successful CBC roll-out, near 100% transition from primary to secondary (93% and rising) progressive TVET and University reforms, among others.” Take a quick survey and help us improve our website! Take a survey The Ministry of Sports was previously headed by CS Rashid Echesa who was fired on Friday morning. President Kenyatta said the changes were cognizant of the need to better equip and orientate his Government in the implementation of its transformative vision for a better Kenya. He added that the shake-up was “necessary to embed operational enhancements and functional changes that shall make Ministries, State Departments and State Agencies better able to deliver on their mandates”. Share this story