Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has launched a sharp critique of the government’s handling of the education sector, dismissing claims by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale that the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is the root of the current challenges in schools.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday night, Duale described CBC as a mess inherited from previous administrations, arguing that the current government is working to correct longstanding flaws in the system.
In a strongly worded response, Matiang’i said the difficulties facing the education sector today are a direct result of what he termed gross incompetence within the current administration.
According to him, poor leadership and weak coordination at the Ministry of Education have undermined gains that were previously achieved through deliberate planning and reforms.
Matiang’i singled out the 100 per cent transition policy as an example of a flagship programme that has suffered under the present leadership.
The policy, which ensured that all learners progressing from primary to secondary school were absorbed into the system, was once hailed as a major milestone in expanding access to education.
He argued that despite its success, poor implementation and lack of adequate support structures have weakened its impact in recent years.
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“The real mess is not the curriculum,” Matiang’i said, insisting that even if the government had inherited a different education system, the outcome would have been the same. “Incompetence is the only thing they execute with consistency.”
He further noted that criticism of the Ministry of Education is no longer limited to the opposition. Several Members of Parliament allied to the government have recently voiced concern over what they describe as inefficiency and misplaced priorities among senior ministry officials.
Some legislators have accused top bureaucrats of focusing more on personal branding and internal power struggles than on the practical needs of schools, teachers and learners.
Matiang’i maintained that CBC, like any other curriculum, requires sound planning, adequate resources and professional leadership to succeed.
He argued that confusion in implementation, frequent policy shifts and poor communication with teachers and parents have created unnecessary chaos in the education sector.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with CBC,” he said. The challenge we are witnessing is the hopeless and chaotic management of the sector.
Despite the criticism, Matiang’i struck a hopeful tone, saying the situation is not beyond repair.
He expressed confidence that a change in leadership would restore professionalism, order and results driven management in education and across government.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, Matiang’i said Kenyans would have an opportunity to rescue the country from incompetence and poor leadership, pledging that a future administration would prioritise efficiency, accountability and long term planning in the education sector.
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