‘We Are Fixing Your Mess’ – Ruto Fires Back at Matiang’i Over Education
President William Ruto has sharply responded to criticism from former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, asserting that his administration is actively repairing deep-rooted problems inherited from the previous government. The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions over the state of education in Kenya, particularly around funding, teacher shortages, and the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Ruto’s Defense During Kisumu Address
Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, February 2, 2026, President Ruto directly addressed critics, including Matiang’i, who have questioned the government’s handling of the education system.
He described the sector as “broken” upon his assumption of office in 2022, citing chronic issues such as inadequate capitation funds for schools, severe teacher shortages, and financial instability threatening universities and technical institutions.
“I am seeing some leaders trying to lecture us about the education system. We want to tell them we are fixing your mess. You messed the education system. There were no teachers in class, there was inadequate capitation, there was not enough money for universities and TVETs, 21 universities were facing closure because of insolvency,” Ruto stated.
The President emphasized tangible progress under his leadership, including timely disbursement of capitation funds—reaching schools even before the term began this month—and the recruitment of 100,000 teachers to address staffing gaps.
Ruto also noted increased allocations to universities and TVET institutions to resolve insolvency concerns. He urged critics to refrain from what he called unwarranted lectures, framing his government’s efforts as corrective measures rather than new failures.
Matiang’i’s Counter: Blame Lies in Current Management, Not CBC
The President’s remarks come shortly after Matiang’i pushed back against accusations that the CBC—introduced and rolled out during his tenure—was the root of current challenges.
In a statement issued on Friday, January 30, 2026, Matiang’i responded to comments from Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who had labeled CBC as “my mess” that the current administration was fixing.
Matiang’i rejected this narrative, arguing that the real issues stem from poor leadership and mismanagement under the Kenya Kwanza government, not the curriculum design itself.
“The real mess we are witnessing today is not the curriculum itself, but the gross incompetence with which the administration he serves has managed the education sector,” he said.
He pointed to the mishandling of the 100% transition policy—a key achievement under previous reforms—as evidence of systemic failures. Matiang’i insisted that incompetence would produce similar outcomes regardless of the curriculum framework, whether CBC, 8-4-4, or otherwise.
“There is nothing wrong with the CBC; the present challenge is in the incompetent and chaotic management of the education sector. Hopeless implementation of the curriculum! But there is hope! We are ready to fix this again,” Matiang’i concluded, signaling his readiness to contribute to solutions if given the opportunity.
Broader Implications for Kenya’s Education Debate
This public back-and-forth underscores the polarized views on education reforms in Kenya. Ruto’s administration highlights inherited structural deficits and claims steady improvements in funding and staffing. Meanwhile, Matiang’i defends the CBC framework while attributing ongoing disruptions to execution failures by the current team.
As political rhetoric intensifies ahead of future elections, the education sector remains a key battleground, with parents, teachers, and students caught in the middle of competing narratives about responsibility and progress.
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‘We Are Fixing Your Mess’ – Ruto Fires Back at Matiang’i Over Education