Ensure you have titles, PS Belio Kipsang tells head teachers

NAIROBI: Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has instructed all public school head teachers to ensure the land where their institutions are built have title deeds.

He said it is the responsibility of school heads to ensure the assets under their custody are safe.

"We shall hold you accountable if you do not protect the property placed under your custody," said the PS.

TITLE DEEDS

He said as details emerged that most public schools do not have requisite documentation of ownership.

House Education Committee Deputy Chairperson Julius Melly asked the ministry to ensure all land meant for schools are protected.

"As a committee of Parliament we are concerned by the development and we want the ministry to ensure all school property is protected," he said.

He said all urban schools title deeds should be processed in the first phase with immediate effect.

"We cannot afford to lose public utility land to private developers and therefore we ask the ministry to make this an urgent assignment," he said.

The two officials spoke Monday as primary school heads made a statement in solidarity with the Lang'ata Road Primary School head teacher.

Kenya Primary School Heads Association National Chairmen Joseph Karuga, said the head teacher did what he ought to have done.

"The head teacher could not have done it any other way. We support him and shall stand by him. There shall be no victimisation," he said.

WHISTLE BLOWER

He said it is his responsibility to blow the whistle and we support his move to sound the alarm.

Meanwhile, the National Children's Government has also condemned the Lang'ata Road Primary school incident that saw children tear-gassed.

Led by the President Danny Kinaro, they asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to take immediate action on the persons involved in the fiasco.