Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya alongside Acting Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i address the press on January 17, 2018. [Photo|Salim Mvurya]
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi were the missing coastal region county bosses during Acting Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i's fact-finding tour of the region.Their Tana River and Lamu counterparts, Fahim Twaha and Godhana Dhadho respectively did not physically show up as well.Despite their absence, all the six coastal counties were represented. Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi represented Joho.
Matiang'i toured the region on Wednesday following reports of low Form One turnout in coast secondary schools.Upon arrival, the Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary held his first meeting in Kwale county where he was received by Governor Salim Mvurya. Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja was also present.During the tour, the Coastal leadership with the regional education stakeholders together with Matiang’i launched ‘Operation Tupeleke Watoto Shule' despite Joho and Kingi's absence.The operation is intended to ensure children in the larger coastal region are taken and stay in school especially after it emerged that the region recorded low Form One admission this year.Speaking after a stakeholders' meeting in Kwale and Mombasa on Wednesday, Matiang'i said the operation would be carried by both the national government through the office of county commissioners and the county government with help of chiefs in villages.In Mombasa, Matiang'i led a stakeholders' meeting at the Kenya School of Government after visiting Mama Ngina Girls High School.He said the government had already provided 100 million shillings infrastructure grant to relocate the institution which is located in Ganjoni, Kisauni constituency, to Shimo La Tewa in Shanzu.Mama Ngina High School was established on the January 25, 1988, as a public double streamed boarding school.The CS indicated the relocation would see the school expanded to a 10 acre piece of land so as to accommodate more students, including a section for day scholars.