Public schools in Nairobi under threat by land grabbers

From left to right: National Land Commission Chairman Mohammed Swazuri, Lands CS Charity Ngilu and Nairobi governor Evans Kidero addressing the media at the Langata Road Primary School, Nairobi. [PHOTO BY: MBUGUA KIBERA]

NAIROBI: At least six public schools in Nairobi County may suffer the same fate that befell Lang'ata Road Primary School because they lack title deeds.

An Education task force appointed by the Nairobi county government found out that some of the schools have no ownership documents for their entire land while others had part of their land allegedly grabbed and fenced by unknown people.

The task force report released last year showed that Kabiria Primary, Ngong Forest Primary, Olympic Primary, Uhuru Gardens, Our Lady of Mercy and Kamkunji Secondary are among the schools whose land ownership has not been established.

"The task force observed that the encroachment and grabbing of school land posed a threat to the expansion of public schools," the report partly reads.

The task force in its report indicated that the county needs to check the historical information on school land, including the original size, and correct ownership records such as deed and survey plans done by competent surveyors, investigators, governance experts and land planners.

The task force recommended that all public land earmarked for educational purposes, which had been reallocated for private development, be reclaimed.

RELOCATE SCHOOL

The church was not spared either in the numerous complaints presented to the task force team which established that six faith-based schools are entangled in land disputes.

The schools include Kinyanjui Road Primary School (PCEA), Riruta Primary School (Revival Church), Madaraka Primary (AGAPE), St Peters Clavers Primary (St. Peter's Clavers Catholic Parish), Catholic Parochial (Holy Family Basilica-Minor) and Aga Khan Primary School Parklands.

The report indicates that Catholic Parochial School is within the church compound and that the church has been expanding its facilities and that threatens future development of the school. The team recommended that the church acquires land elsewhere and relocate the school.

In Madaraka Primary School, the task force established that the church has encroached on the school land through a letter of authorisation from City planning, issued under the defunct City Council of Nairobi.

Education, Youth Affairs and Social Services Committee Executive member Christopher Khaemba said that the county is surveying all the 205 public schools, and only 70 schools have not been surveyed. He said the county met Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu over title deeds for schools.