Former PS Passes Away
Former Education Permanent Secretary Karega Mutahi passed away on Sunday.
Karega’s legacy includes dedicated service to the Ministry of Education during former President Mwai Kibaki’s term, where he was noted for driving significant reforms.
Many in the education sector have expressed sorrow over Karega’s passing, including Olive Mugenda, Chairperson of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital, who honored him as an exceptional leader.
”It is a deep loss to part with my dear friend and former superior, Prof. Karega Mutahi, former PS of the Ministry of Education. He was a hands-on PS who effectively handled his duties. As Kenyatta University Hospital neared completion and preparations for its operations were underway, Prof. Mutahi graciously chaired the operationalization committee I appointed as the then Vice-Chancellor,” Mugenda shared.
”As PS of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Mutahi’s support was pivotal during my tenure as VC at Kenyatta University. His dedication enabled us to achieve excellent results and make significant transformations at KU. His role in the education sector and at KUTRRH, especially in that essential operationalization committee, will be recognized when the story is told,” she added.
Karega’s career is also marked by an inspiring rise to the rank of professor without a formal high school background.
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“I didn’t attend high school; I even had to repeat a primary class,” Mutahi once shared in an interview with the Nation.
He revealed that he took the Certificate of Primary Education in 1963, scoring an A in English, a B in Mathematics, and a D in the general paper.
Karega later pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, then advanced to earn a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Linguistics from the University of Nairobi.
His career extended to the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing, and the former Office of the Vice President, as well as Planning and National Development.
However, his tenure at the Ministry of Education was overshadowed by allegations linked to a Ksh 4.2 billion corruption scandal involving the free primary education program.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged Karega, along with then-Education Minister Sam Ongeri, to resign to allow an independent investigation into the scandal. Karega was later suspended along with 15 officials over the issue.
Former PS Passes Away
