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A senior education officer who was publicly humiliated by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha early this month yesterday recorded a statement with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Gitonga Mbaka, the Uasin Gishu county Director of Education spent two hours recording a statement at the EACC regional offices in Eldoret town yesterday.

Mbaka arrived at the regional offices at 11am and spent two hours with EACC detectives, only emerging shortly after 1pm.

“I have said all that I wanted to say to the EACC,” he told reporters as he left.

He revealed that he had demanded that the EACC team visits the school in question, Langas Primary to establish its hygienic standards following Prof Magoha’s claim that it was in a filthy state. 

“I insisted to the EACC officers that we go to Langas Primary and see that ‘filthy’ school.

They were surprised to find out from teachers that nothing had been done at the school regarding cleanliness since that day and yet it in superb condition,” he told journalists.

If anything, Mbaka maintained, several head-teachers have been visiting the school for benchmarking.

“In fact, other head-teachers have been there for benchmarking. I think the picture is itself a story confirming that truly the summons were honored and I duly made my statement as requested,” added Mbaka.

EACC regional head Japheth Baithalu said they only wanted him to shade light on what transpired at the school.

Baithalu declined to comment further on the issue saying it is still under investigation.

The EACC investigations relate to the November 6 incident at Langas primary school in Eldoret town when the CS was caught on camera scolding a senior Mbaka in front of colleagues and primary school pupils.

“Nikisema wewe ni mjinga ni uwongo (Would I be lying if I said you are foolish,?)” said the exasperated Magoha.

His outbursts came after he found the school in what he viewed as an untidy state.

According to parents who were present, Magoha ordered teachers to collect rubbish in the school compound in full view of their pupils.

The incident triggered a public outcry with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) demanding an apology from the CS, accusing him of disrespecting education officials.

Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba protested that Magoha’s  conduct was unbecoming of a senior public official.