The echo of Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah’s “clueless” remark has barely faded in the Naivasha retreat halls, but the financial implications are already shaking the Ministry of Education. On January 28, 2026, the battle line was drawn: Parliament will not release a single cent of the requested Sh48 billion supplementary budget until Education PS Julius Bitok and CS Migos Ogamba prove they have a grip on the “ground reality.”
Here is the roadmap of the current legislative standoff and what it means for the Grade 10 transition.
1. The “Non-Responsive” CS: A Communication Breakdown
It wasn’t just Ichung’wah firing shots. Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo confronted CS Migos Ogamba directly, accusing him of ignoring calls and texts from elected leaders.
The Allegation: Gogo claimed the CS visits constituencies, promises development projects like multipurpose facilities, and lays foundation stones without ever informing the local MP.
The Defensive Posture: While Ogamba apologized, the sentiment among MPs is clear: The Ministry is operating as an “island,” disconnected from the very people who authorize their budget.
2. The 97% vs. The Reality Check
The Ministry presented a report claiming a 97% transition rate to Grade 10 and the release of 50% of capitation funds. Lawmakers, however, dismissed these figures as “guesswork” and “political rhetoric.”
Ugenya MP David Ochieng slammed the report, noting that hundreds of students remain stranded at home despite the government’s 100% transition directive.
Textbook Crisis: MPs were horrified to learn that textbook distribution for Grade 10 stands at a mere 57%, primarily because the government owes publishers Sh5.6 billion.
3. Bitok’s “On the Ground” Response
In a cheeky rebuttal to being called “clueless,” PS Julius Bitok posted a photo on social media captioned “On the ground! On call! On duty!” * The Counter-Tactics: While Bitok is trying to show he is active, Ichung’wah has demanded a Gazette Notice by next week to cap school lunch and uniform costs. This is the “litmus test”—if the Ministry fails to regulate these “cartels,” Parliament has threatened to redirect infrastructure funds away from the Ministry and back to the NG-CDF.
