CS Machogu Bans Use of Politicians’ Portraits on Exam Materials and School Items
Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary for Education, banned principals from conducting exams on papers having political photos or names.
Allowing politicians to manipulate innocent children in their search for power, according to the CS, is unacceptable. He highlighted that politicians are increasingly using children to woo their parents.
He singled out Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, accusing him of lately distributing early childhood development and education (ECDE) county examination papers with his photo on them.
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In the case of Kakamega, the ministry invalidated the examination, citing bad motives in order to coerce students and parents. Mr. Machogu explained that a politician’s photo or name has nothing to do with the exams.
While the Kakamega governor did not respond to our calls seeking comment, his communications director, Sumba Juma, insisted the charges were false. Mr. Juma remarked, “Show us evidence that we published such materials, and we will respond.” Otherwise, hakuna kitu kama hiyo (no such thing).
Mr. Machogu stated that the ministry will not accept this cheap publicity adding that MPs have been banned from putting their photos on school buses and school projects.
Governor Simba Arati of Kisii County is claimed to have given students school bags bearing his photo. Mr. Arati expressed regret that the instruction was issued, ostensibly to target his Elimu na Simba initiative for political purposes.
Arati stated that children have gotten branded products from politicians and corporations throughout the years and questioned why the regulation is being implemented now.
“It is unfortunate that they are planning to stop the children’s happiness after receiving the bags for their own selfish reasons,” Mr. Arati added.
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Mr. Machogu’s directive, which is not a new measure, follows a similar prohibition set by his predecessor, George Magoha, in early 2022. Magoha had mandated the prevention of issuing success cards to candidates containing the names or photographs of politicians.
Magoha emphasized the need to ensure that all success messages sent to students featuring political portraits be destroyed, stating, “Our children are not in politics; they are simply children.” The late CS Magoha warned of disciplinary consequences for principals who failed to adhere to the directive.
This directive from Mr. Machogu comes against the backdrop of a power struggle between the national government and counties over the management of ECDE centers, as the state initiates the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Working Group on Education Reforms (PWPER).
The PWPER advocates repealing the Early Childhood Education Act in its report in order to incorporate early childhood education into the Basic Education Act. According to the PWPER team’s assessment, fundamental education begins in preschool and continues through high school.
The PWPER research also advocates that the administration of ECDEs be delegated to the principals of comprehensive schools, which will also encompass primary and secondary schools. Mr Machogu stated that this would begin immediately.
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Since the beginning of devolution, the centers have been under the jurisdiction of county administrations. According to Anne Waiguru, chairperson of the Council of Governors, no law has been officially enacted to change this stance.
CS Machogu Bans Use of Politicians’ Portraits on Exam Materials and School Items
