President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet has diverse representation, especially in terms of academic excellence and professionalism.

From the Standard 7 drop out who heads the Sports Ministry (Rashid Echesa), to the former “makanga” who is now Agriculture CS (Mwangi Kiunjuiri), and even the no-nonsense Fred Matiang’i – a former lecturer known for his quick resolve.

Unknown to many, Kenyatta’s Cabinet also has a student who once topped the country in the equivalent of the KCSE exams.

1984 KACE

Keriako Tobiko, currently serving as Environment CS, was the best student in the 1984 Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), an A-level exam done at the end of Form 6.

Tobiko later proceeded to the University of Nairobi where he studied a bachelor’s degree in law.

In 1990, he won the Barclays Cambridge Commonwealth Scholarship that took him to the University of Cambridge to study a masters’ degree in law.

Despite his high academic achievement, Tobiko is also a perfect proof that the brightest student does not always become the most successful.

Noordin Haji

In his current position, the Environment CS has had a lackluster performance and is one the least visible members of the Cabinet.

In his 12-year reign as Director of Public Prosecution, Tobiko was often criticized for incompetency, the failure to prosecute high-profile cases and allegations of corruption levelled against him.

The current DPP, Noordin Haji, has won public admiration for reforming the Prosecutor’s office that had nearly become redundant under Tobiko.