Education CS Ogamba in fresh efforts to bring order at Kenya Literature Bureau

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has intervened in the Kenya Literature Bureau's shaky administration, naming Julius Aritho as Acting Managing Director for six months.

This follows the expiration of incumbent MD Victor Lomaria's term, which ends on August 31, 2024. Aritho's appointment to the state agency in charge of producing school study materials comes at a time when the organisation is plagued by leadership disputes as well as allegations of nepotism and favouritism.

Dr. Rispah Wepukhulu, KLB Board Chairperson, indicated in a message to newsrooms that Aritho will take up the job on September 1, 2024, until a permanent MD is chosen.

"I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Managing Director, for his selfless acts of service that have seen the Bureau grow its bottom line. I appreciate the dedication and commitment with which Mr. Lomaria has held, to enrich staff welfare and establish KLB as the leading publishing and printing powerhouse," said Wepukhulu.

"Staff are required to dedicate their energies towards fostering a team spirit aimed at ensuring a smooth transition until the appointment of a substantive Managing Director. Further, staff are urged to accord Mr. Aritho co-operation in the discharge of his duties for the success of the Bureau."

Ogamba's bid to bring sanity to the agency also comes amidst a court case against its leadership. Catherine Njuguna states in court papers that KLB employees were not involved in the conceptualisation and implementation of the new human resource structures utilised to appoint acting employees.

Based on the new HR instruments, Catherine argues that the company's board of directors approved the appointment of junior staff to act in senior positions and ignored the qualifications and seniority of other members of staff.

Catherine's petition attempts to stop the implementation of its new Human Resource (HR) structure as it allegedly lacks the backing of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

"The structures were not subjected to public participation, consultation and views of staff before their implementation," she says.

Based on the new HR instruments, Catherine argues that the company's board of directors approved the appointment of junior staff to act in senior positions and ignored the qualifications and seniority of other members of staff.

She seeks to have the court prevent the Bureau and one Victor Lomaria from implementing its new HR instruments and appointments contained in a memo dated June 28.

Before Ogamba's intervention, trouble had been brewing at KLB after Education PS Belio Kipsang rescinded a board decision to appoint an acting managing director for the state-owned company.

Dr Kipsang rescinded the appointment of Kenneth Jumba as acting managing director hours after the board, chaired by Dr Rispa Wepukhulu, replaced the incumbent Victor Lomaria.

Wepukhulu's communication to senior management asked the team to support Jumba in carrying out his tasks.

But PS Kipsang reversed the move hours after the letter landed on his desk and ordered Lomaria, who had been sent on compulsory leave until the end of his term on August 31, to return to office.

"The status quo to this letter remains. Meanwhile, you are required to submit the curriculum vitae of all managers of the Bureau to the Principal Secretary to facilitate consultations on the appointment of the acting managing-director before the expiry of the term of the current managing-director," Kipsang said in the letter to Wepukhulu.

The twists come amid fierce court battles from various quarters, including employees, against Lomaria, seeking his removal and an attempt to set aside a new organisational structure.

KLB has won the tender to print and publish millions of textbooks for public primary and junior secondary schools that will start Grade 9 intake in January 2025.