Ruto Reshuffles Principal Secretaries, Swaps Julius Bitok and Joseph Ololtuaa

 The Head of State has reassigned Principal Secretaries Julius Bitok and Joseph Ololtuaa, swapping the Basic Education and Tourism dockets.

Article by: Babz Abdul-Raheem.
Date: June 10,2026.

 President William Ruto has made changes within his administration, reassigning Principal Secretaries Julius Bitok and Joseph Ololtuaa in a move aimed at strengthening service delivery across key government sectors.

In the latest reshuffle, Julius Bitok, who has been serving as the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, has been transferred to the State Department for Tourism. He takes over from Joseph Ololtuaa, who has now been moved to the State Department for Basic Education.

The changes come as the government continues to implement reforms in both the education and tourism sectors, which remain critical pillars of the country's economic and social development agenda.

During his tenure at the Ministry of Education, Bitok oversaw the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), school infrastructure expansion projects, and various initiatives aimed at improving access to quality education across the country. His transfer to Tourism is expected to bring his extensive administrative experience to a sector that has shown strong recovery and growth in recent years.

On the other hand, Ololtuaa, who has been credited with helping drive Kenya's tourism recovery through strategic marketing campaigns and policy initiatives, now takes charge of the Basic Education docket. He will be tasked with steering ongoing education reforms and addressing challenges facing learners, teachers, and institutions across the country.

The reshuffle underscores President Ruto's efforts to align leadership within government ministries and departments with his administration's development priorities. Such changes are often intended to inject fresh perspectives, enhance efficiency, and accelerate the implementation of government programmes.

Stakeholders will be keenly watching how the two Principal Secretaries adapt to their new responsibilities as the government seeks to deliver on its commitments in education and tourism.