It is with profound sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Mama Zipporah Kosgey, beloved wife of Hon. Henry Kosgey, a distinguished leader, my mentor and a dear friend. Mama Zipporah was a remarkable woman of grace, humility and unwavering devotion to her family and community. Her warmth, wisdom and quiet strength earned her the admiration and respect of all who knew her. During this moment of grief, I convey my deepest condolences to Hon. Henry Kosgey, Allan, Charlene, Alexander, the Kamoek and Kosgey families and all whose lives were touched by her love and kindness. May the Almighty God grant the family peace and fortitude during this difficult time and may Mama Zipporah's soul rest in eternal peace.

I am saddened to learn of the passing of Hon. Gideon Konchellah, former Member of Parliament for Kilgoris and former Cabinet Minister. Hon. Konchellah devoted many years of his life to public service, serving the people of Kilgoris and our nation with dedication and commitment. His contribution to leadership and community development will be remembered for generations. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the people of Kilgoris during this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Kenya’s tourism sector holds immense promise, and realizing our target of five million international visitor arrivals by 2027 will require all of us to work together with a shared sense of purpose. During my engagement with industry stakeholders, I reaffirmed my commitment to open and constructive collaboration as we seek to grow the sector, diversify our tourism offerings beyond traditional safari and beach experiences, and position Kenya as a destination of choice for visitors from around the world. My office will remain open and accessible to all stakeholders as we collectively create more opportunities for investment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all Kenyans #MagicalKenya

Following the handover ceremony, I paid a courtesy call on Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH, to discuss the sector’s priorities and the Government’s agenda for tourism growth and transformation. The meeting was also attended by my predecessor, PS John Ololtuaa, whose presence underscored the seamless transition and continuity of leadership within the State Department. I appreciate the CS’s guidance and look forward to working closely with her, industry stakeholders, and development partners to build on the sector’s achievements, enhance Kenya’s competitiveness as a tourism destination, and contribute to national economic development #MagicalKenya

Today, I officially assumed office as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Tourism following a handover ceremony by my predecessor, PS @ololtuaa I commend PS Ololtuaa for his dedicated service and leadership in advancing Kenya’s tourism agenda and for the smooth transition process. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and look forward to working with stakeholders across the sector to strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading global tourism destination, drive sustainable growth, and create greater opportunities for our people #TembeaKenya #MagicalKenya

Following the successful handover of the State Department for Basic Education, I had the privilege of accompanying my successor, PS @ololtuaa for an introductory meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary @HonJuliusMigos The engagement provided an opportunity to ensure a seamless leadership transition and reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing the Government’s education agenda. I am grateful for the support and collaboration I received during my tenure and remain confident that the sector will continue to thrive under the stewardship of CS Ogamba and PS Ololtuaa. As I embark on my new assignment in the tourism sector, I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and with optimism for the future of education in our country.

Today, I officially handed over the leadership of the State Department for Basic Education to my colleague, PS @ololtuaa following the Presidential re-assignment. It has been an honor and privilege to serve in this role and work alongside dedicated stakeholders committed to transforming education in our country. As I embark on my new assignment at the State Department for Tourism, I remain grateful for the support accorded to me and look forward to serving Kenyans in this new capacity. I wish PS Ololtuaa every success as he takes over the mantle.

A heartfelt Asante Sana to our outgoing PS @ololtuaa for your stewardship at the @TourismKE_ , and the entire sector. As you transition to guide Kenya’s Basic Education, we celebrate your dedicated service and wish you absolute success in your new tour of duty! In the same spirit of progress, we warmly welcome our incoming PS, Amb. Prof. @JuliusKBitok whose rich diplomatic background is a powerful asset that will undoubtedly propel Magical Kenya to new global heights. Together, the journey continues and a warm welcome to the Magical Kenya Family!

Today, I held a productive engagement with education stakeholders from Bomet County, including KNUT Executive Secretary Desmond Langat, KUPPET Executive Secretary Mr. Kimetho, Dr. Maritim of Bomet University College, and other education leaders. I appreciate their valuable insights and commendations regarding our ongoing efforts to address key challenges in the education sector, particularly teacher shortages, staffing gaps, and the pursuit of improved learning outcomes. I am also grateful for their recognition of our stakeholder engagements during the recent Education Days in Bomet County. As we continue to transform education, I reaffirm my commitment to working closely with teacher unions and all education stakeholders to enhance teachers’ welfare, strengthen staffing in our institutions, and improve the quality of education for all learners across the country. Together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive education system for Kenya #ElimuThabiti

Four days into the nationwide school inspection exercise, I am encouraged by the commitment demonstrated by our Quality Assurance Officers, school leaders, teachers and learners in strengthening safety and stability within our institutions. Learning continues normally in the overwhelming majority of our schools as the Ministry intensifies engagement with learners and education stakeholders while assessing school safety standards, student support systems and learning environments across the country. The ongoing 10-day inspection exercise will provide critical insights to guide further interventions aimed at enhancing learner welfare and ensuring that our schools remain safe, secure and conducive spaces for learning. I wish to assure parents and guardians that the Ministry remains fully committed to protecting every learner and safeguarding uninterrupted learning across the country #ElimuThabiti

Today, I chaired a consultative meeting with key stakeholders on the implementation of the Greening of Schools and Solarisation of Schools Programme. The meeting brought together consultants, contractors, representatives from KCB, and Ministry officials to review progress, discuss implementation strategies, and address emerging challenges. Our discussions focused on advancing sustainable learning environments that will positively impact learners and school communities across the country. I emphasized the importance of collaboration, accountability, and adherence to agreed timelines to ensure the successful delivery of the programme and the realization of its intended benefits. Together, we remain committed to creating greener, more resilient, and future-ready schools for our learners #ElimuThabiti

Today, I had the privilege of presiding over the Grade 10 Academic Clinic Day at Pioneer Group of Schools in Murang’a County, following an invitation from the School Director, Mr. Peter Munga. During my visit, I officially commissioned the modern JT Dormitory and toured various school facilities, including the institution’s digital learning infrastructure and smart classroom boards. I was impressed by the school’s significant investment in modern educational facilities, which reflects a strong commitment to providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning. I commend the school for embracing technology and innovation in education. The digital learning systems and infrastructure are aligned with the Ministry of Education’s policies and guidelines on the integration of technology in learning. I encouraged both learners and teachers to fully utilize these resources to enhance academic performance and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global environment. I appreciate the school leadership, teachers, parents, and learners for their dedication to advancing quality education and nurturing future generations #ElimuThabiti

Later, I visited Equatorial Nut Processors Ltd in Maragua, Murang’a County, where I was hosted by Mr. Peter Munga. I toured the Fortified Foods Division and the macadamia nut processing plant, gaining firsthand insight into the company’s value-addition initiatives. I commend the company for its contribution to food security, nutrition, and job creation. The production of fortified foods that support schools and other institutions underscores the important link between proper nutrition and improved learning outcomes. Such investments also provide valuable opportunities for learners to appreciate innovation, value addition, and the role of industry in driving sustainable socio-economic development #ElimuThabiti

I then joined the Kaboson Girls High School community in Chepalungu Constituency, Bomet County, for their Thanksgiving and Prize-Giving Day celebrations, where we celebrated academic excellence, rewarded outstanding performance and encouraged learners to continue striving for greater success. I commend the school’s leadership, teachers, parents and students for their commitment to excellence and for nurturing a culture of discipline, resilience and achievement. As part of the Government’s commitment to strengthening learning environments, I pledged the Ministry’s support towards the construction of an administration block at the school to enhance service delivery and support quality education. I was honoured to be joined by Bomet County Senator Hon. Hillary Sigei, Chepalungu MP Hon. Victor Koech, Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Hon. Aurelia Rono, Hon. Wilson Sossion and other leaders as we celebrated the remarkable achievements and bright future of Kaboson Girls High School.

At The Kenya High School Speech and Prize Giving Day, I reaffirmed that there will be no unscheduled closure of schools before the official midterm break set for 24-28 June, as learning continues normally in over 99 per cent of our more than 9,500 schools. To strengthen school safety and learner welfare, we have increased the number of Quality Assurance Officers from 600 to 1,000 and deployed them on a nationwide 10-day inspection exercise. The findings will inform the Ministry’s next interventions as we continue working to ensure that our schools remain safe, stable and conducive environments for learning. The safety and well being of our learners remains non-negotiable #ElimuThabiti

I am currently attending The Kenya High School Speech and Prize Giving Day, where we are celebrating the outstanding achievements of learners who continue to distinguish themselves through excellence, discipline, and hard work. As we honour these accomplishments, I remain keenly aware of the challenges that have recently disrupted learning in some parts of the country. The Ministry is actively undertaking targeted interventions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy, safeguard learning, and ensure that our learners remain in school. Our focus is clear: protecting the right of every child to uninterrupted education, strengthening stability within our institutions, and addressing emerging concerns with urgency and responsibility. The resilience and determination displayed by these young achievers today remind us why we must continue working tirelessly to provide a safe, secure, and conducive environment for learning across the country. I look forward to engaging with the school community as the programme continues.