Also known as: Basic Education PS Julius Bitok · Prof. Julius Bitok · former Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok · Prof. Bitok · Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok · Amb. (Prof) Julius Bitok · Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok · PS Julius Bitok · Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok · Professor Julius Bitok · Prof Bitok
Tourism Principal Secretary who previously led Basic Education, reassigned from the latter role in June 2026 amid school unrest.
… Julius Bitok speaks in a past address. PHOTO| COURTESY Audio By Vocalize The government has urged school heads and education officials to proactively address factors contributing to unrest in learning institutions following reported cases that have disrupted learning in some scho …
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 14 — Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has called for collective and proactive action among education stakeholders to identify and address early triggers of unrest in schools, as the country records a spike in student unrest. …
… Principal Secretary Julius Bitok presented the figures to the Departmental Committee on Education on Wednesday, May 13, warning that approved allocations fall dramatically below what the department requires to meet its own targets. …
… . [Courtesy] The ghosts of the shocking scheme that handed Kenyan identification documents to fighters linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), suspected international terrorists and other shadowy individuals have now drawn former Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok …
The ghosts of the shocking scheme that handed Kenyan identification documents to fighters linked to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), suspected international terrorists and other shadowy individuals have now drawn former Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok into the cen …
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced plans to review restrictions on the number of airlines and flights allowed into Kenya, assessing requests against airport capacity, security, and national interests. The move is part of efforts to double tourist arrivals by 2028 and eliminate bottlenecks hindering tourism growth.
Why it matters
Kenya to review airline restrictions to boost tourism and double arrivals by 2028, removing growth bottlenecks in the sector.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced plans to review restrictions on the number of airlines and flights allowed into Kenya, assessing requests against airport capacity, security, and national interests. The move is part of efforts to double tourist arrivals by 2028 and eliminate bottlenecks hindering tourism growth.
Milk processor Brookside is expanding its market presence in the hospitality industry through strengthened partnerships with the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, leveraging new product innovations and its national distribution footprint to grow its share of the hotel, restaurant and catering market.
Kenya recorded 2.7 million tourists in 2025 against a 5 million target, with hoteliers citing restrictive aviation policies that limit airline numbers and weekly flights. The Tourism PS said the government will review restrictions on airlines and flights to boost arrivals, weighing air access requests against airport capacities and security considerations.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has unveiled measures to address the sector's slow growth over the past two decades, saying Kenya could boost arrivals to 10 million in coming years by leveraging local, regional, and global competitiveness. The PS noted that tourism generates more than Sh500 billion annually and that the government is supporting the industry through market diversification and enhanced digital competitiveness, while simplifying the ETA process and removing visa requirements for African tourists.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, who lost to incumbent Governor Jonathan Bii in the 2022 UDA party primaries, announced his bid for Uasin Gishu governorship in the 2027 General Election and has been campaigning across the county.
Prof. Julius Bitok has officially handed over leadership of the State Department for Basic Education to Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa following a presidential reshuffle that reassigned Bitok to Tourism. Bitok's tenure, which began in October 2023, was marked by implementation of education reforms and efforts to stabilize the Competency-Based Curriculum transition.
The government has begun distributing 10,382 smart interactive devices and laptops to junior schools across the country as part of efforts to digitise learning under the Competency-Based Curriculum and establish smart classrooms.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba is scheduled to hold a press briefing on issues affecting the education sector as at least 200 schools have been affected by student unrest, prompting temporary closures and sparking concerns among parents and teachers. The address comes amid ongoing student strikes, property destruction and learning disruptions across several counties.
President William Ruto moved Principal Secretary Julius Bitok from the Education Ministry to the State Department for Tourism following criticism over his handling of student unrest that led to closures of over 200 schools. The reassignment has sparked debate about whether Bitok should have been dismissed rather than transferred, with critics citing his short and turbulent tenure and an earlier warning from the Majority Leader about his competence.
Lawmakers and education stakeholders are calling for the abolition of boarding schools following unprecedented student unrest across prestigious schools, citing negligence in enforcing safety regulations, overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and mounting discipline challenges. MPs argue that parents have abdicated their responsibilities and that developed countries such as America and Europe do not rely on the boarding school model.
President William Ruto has reassigned Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education to the State Department for Tourism, while John Lekakeny Ololtuaa moved from Tourism to Basic Education, effective immediately.
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has been reassigned to the State Department for Tourism, with John Lekakeny Ololtuaa taking over the Basic Education docket, according to a statement by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. Ololtuaa assumes the education post amid recent school unrest that led to closures.
Student unrest continues to spread across the country, causing deaths and major destruction of learning institutions, worsening the education crisis. Education PS Julius Bitok ruled out early school closures despite the rising unrest.
President William Ruto has reassigned Prof. Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education to Tourism, while John Lekakeny Ololtuaa moves from Tourism to the Basic Education docket. The changes take effect immediately amid ongoing school unrest and closures.
The government said fewer than 200 boarding schools have been affected by ongoing student unrest and directed the Ministry of Education to develop interventions aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening security in schools, after incidents of indiscipline have destroyed property and caused loss of life.
Musingu High School in Kakamega County has been closed indefinitely, with management citing external threats and escalating tension. The school released students on Monday, June 8, 2026, characterizing the closure as a "peer pressure break" to prevent potential student unrest.
An opinion piece argues that the government should temporarily send secondary school students home in response to a wave of unrest that has killed 16 students and closed more than 30 schools, despite the Education ministry's objections; the author contends that an early mid-term break would cut short destructive motives and save lives.
Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said there are no plans for unscheduled school closures, noting that only 0.8 per cent of secondary schools have been affected by unrest while learning continues normally in 99 per cent of schools. He stated that the second-term midterm break is scheduled for June 24–28 and that examination-related pressure is among the factors contributing to the unrest.
Kapenguria Boys High School has been closed indefinitely after students set fires in a dormitory, mattress store, and library on Sunday night while protesting to be released home. The closures have spread to other schools including St Brigid Girls and Kiminini in Trans Nzoia County, and Jomo Kenyatta Boys in Nakuru County.
Pressure is mounting on Kenya's Ministry of Education to convene a national stakeholders' meeting following a surge in school unrest involving dormitory fires and destruction of school properties across dozens of institutions. Education stakeholders and teachers' unions are calling for coordinated national intervention, with KUPPET's chairman urging the Basic Education PS to convene an emergency forum by Friday.
Kenya's government has ordered a ten-day nationwide inspection of boarding schools to assess compliance with safety standards, following a rise in student unrest that has forced several institutions to close. The Basic Education Principal Secretary said 1,000 quality assurance officers have been deployed to schools to monitor the situation and support stability efforts.
Two national schools directed parents to collect their children on Saturday morning following intelligence reports and heightened surveillance. The releases come amid growing cases of student unrest reported across schools in the country.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok has warned students and individuals involved in school unrest and destruction of school property that they will face legal consequences. Dozens of schools across the country have sent learners home following reports of unrest, though the Ministry maintains the school calendar will not be affected as only a small percentage of schools have experienced disruptions.
Upper Hill School's management instructed parents to pick up their children on June 4 as a precautionary measure due to unrest currently being experienced in some schools across the country and signs of restlessness within the school. The closure comes as several other schools including Alliance High School, Loreto High School in Limuru, Lenana School, and St George's Girls Secondary School have also closed temporarily amid student unrest.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has cautioned teachers and school administrators against forcing students to sit examinations when they express anxiety or indicate they are unprepared, saying preventing unrest should take precedence over rigid adherence to testing schedules. Bitok urged schools to embrace dialogue, flexibility, and modern management approaches, including strengthened student leadership structures and counselling programmes.
The Ministry of Education requested Ksh.770 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year but the National Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee allocated Ksh.668.3 billion, leaving a deficit of Ksh.102 billion that could hinder development projects and worsen capitation funding challenges. Specific allocations fall short for free primary education (Ksh.7 billion allocated versus Ksh.15.6 billion requested) and the school feeding programme targeting 2.8 million learners.
The Ministry of Education will not implement an early second-term midterm break despite recent secondary-school disturbances, according to Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. He said approximately 0.8 percent of schools have experienced unrest, while learning continues normally in 99 percent of institutions.