By Hillary Muhalya
The Ministry of Education has confirmed new appointments to the governing councils of two strategic institutions central to Kenya’s curriculum and technical training agenda, signalling continuity in leadership as reforms gather pace.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, through a Gazette Notice dated July 17, announced the reappointment of several members to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). The changes largely preserve existing leadership, with only one new face joining the KICD council.
At TVET CDACC, Ahmed Ferej was retained as non executive chairperson, extending his stewardship of the body that oversees curriculum development, assessment and certification in the technical and vocational sector. Other members reappointed include Mercy Mwaniki, Loice Yator, Rachel Kimani, Florence Suji, Wambua Nyamai and Joseph Kaberia Arimba.
The KICD council also saw minimal changes, with Andrew Rasugu Otachi Riechi and Kibiwott Munge earning fresh terms. Margaret Njaggah was named the sole new appointee, bringing additional perspective to the institution responsible for curriculum design, educational resource evaluation and research.
The appointments come at a time when the Ministry is intensifying reforms to strengthen governance, improve accountability and enhance education quality. Both TVET CDACC and KICD play pivotal roles in shaping Kenya’s education system, directly influencing curriculum design, assessment standards, skills development and learning outcomes.
TVET CDACC continues to develop occupational standards, coordinate competency based assessments and certify graduates from technical institutions. With Kenya placing greater emphasis on employability and technical skills, the council’s work remains crucial in aligning training programmes with labour market demands.
KICD, meanwhile, is spearheading curriculum development and supporting the rollout of the Competency Based Education framework. Its mandate includes ensuring that teaching materials remain relevant to national priorities and global trends.
Education stakeholders view the decision to retain most council members as a deliberate strategy to preserve institutional memory and ensure continuity during a period of significant policy implementation. Stable governance structures, they argue, will accelerate reforms while providing consistent oversight of programmes aimed at improving learning quality and skills acquisition.
The appointments coincide with broader leadership changes in the education sector. In June, President William Ruto reassigned former Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok to the State Department for Tourism, with John Lekakeny Ololtuaa taking over at Basic Education. Before his transfer, Bitok had urged schools to reconsider the frequency of mock examinations, warning that excessive academic pressure could harm learners’ well being.
As Kenya advances transformative education policies, the newly constituted councils are expected to provide strategic leadership, strengthen governance and support programmes that equip learners with industry relevant competencies. Their stewardship will be closely watched as the country seeks to build an education system responsive to economic realities and capable of producing globally competitive graduates.
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