The Ministry of Education has assured that no employee will lose their job following a sweeping parastatal restructuring aimed at streamlining operations and eliminating overlapping mandates across the education sector.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the restructuring will enhance efficiency without disrupting essential services or oversight functions. “Even as we merge or dissolve, there will be no loss of jobs or functions. That is why some are being moved back to the Ministry so that we do not lose the functions. We want to avoid duplicating duties and inefficiency,” Ogamba said.
The restructuring process targets several education agencies for mergers or dissolution as part of the government’s broader reform agenda. The University Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) are among institutions earmarked for merger, while others—such as the Commission for University Education (CUE), Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), and Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)—are under review.
Entities set for dissolution include the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, and the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK). Additionally, the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) and the School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU) will also be scrapped, with their functions reverting to the Ministry.
According to Ogamba, the reforms follow a Cabinet directive issued on January 21, 2025, which raised concern over duplicated roles within multiple education parastatals. “The Cabinet said we have too many corporations performing the same duties. We now have a technical team assessing which mergers are viable, the budget implications, and the possibility of weaning some institutions off exchequer support,” he explained.
The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that legislative proposals have been developed in collaboration with the Attorney General, National Treasury, and other key stakeholders to legally anchor the restructuring. “The bills have been drafted in consultation with the relevant institutions to ensure a smooth transition,” Ogamba added.
The proposed reforms are captured within the draft Basic Education Bill 2025, which seeks to replace the current Basic Education Act (Cap 211). If enacted, it will consolidate the administration of all scholarships and bursaries under the Cabinet Secretary for Education. This follows a Cabinet declaration that the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation’s scholarship mandate had become outdated and should be absorbed into the Ministry framework.
However, Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma has urged caution, warning against hasty implementation. He cited the confusion that accompanied the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout, urging for adequate public participation and legislative clarity before finalizing the mergers. “We do not want a repeat of past confusion. Let us ensure the law is amended properly and that stakeholders are fully consulted,” Mwaruma said.
The Education Ministry parastatal restructuring marks one of the most significant institutional overhauls in Kenya’s education sector in recent years, aligning with the government’s drive for leaner, more efficient governance while protecting workers’ welfare.
