Speed up issuance of land title deeds to schools

Alarmed by the grabbing of land belonging to institutions of learning, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Lands to issue title deeds to schools across the country.

His order came hot on the heels of the alleged grabbing and repossession of land belonging to Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi.

Of concern, however, five years after the presidential directive, majority of schools are yet to be handed the crucial documents. So far only 11,974 out of 32,643 institutions have received their title deeds, according to Shule Yangu Campaign Alliance.

This means that 20,000-odd schools are still exposed to the avaricious land grabbers who have hived off many acres belonging to learning institutions in collusion with corrupt Lands ministry officials, unbothered by the extent of damage their actions bring to our children and the future of our country.

While we appreciate the fact that the Lands ministry has a lot in its hands as the president has also directed it to speedily issue title deeds to land owners who have been without the documents for many years, it is imperative that Cabinet Secretary Faridah Karoney gives special attention to the land belonging to learning institutions.

The ministry should do its best to ensure that by the time President Kenyatta leaves office in 2022, his dream to secure school land from Kilifi County to Turkana County is achieved.

The ministry, in conjunction with Kenya Police should also ensure that any grabbed school land is returned and those behind the odious practice are put behind bars.

That is the best way to send a strong message to potential land grabbers and thieves of all shades that public property is a no-go zone.