Education CS Prof George Magoha has warned school land grabbers to brace for a response from the ministry. Magoha was speaking during the launching of physical education and sports policy at Kenya institute of curriculum development (KICD).
He noted that the government has plans to repossess all grabbed parcels.
There are about 29,404 public schools in Kenya. Out of this, more than 24,400 have no title deeds or lease certificates. Lack of documentation of ownership influences vulnerability to encroachment and land-grabbing.
The National Land Commission has so far received 4,100 schools cases of land contestation, encroachment and grabbing. In January 2015, the attempted takeover of Lang’ata Primary School land highlighted the threat public schools without legal protection face from such grabbers.
President Kenyatta gave a directive to the Lands ministry to title all public school parcels. However, only 2.7 per cent (800) of all schools in the country have had their titles processed and have not yet received lease certificates.
In March 2018, the government launched an investigation into the grabbing of school land. Up to date it has never released its findings.
“Our audit exercise is not to target individuals but is aiming at the ultimate protection of land belonging to education institutions. However, if there are individuals taking school land, they will be identified and questioned accordingly,” PS Belio Kipsang, who headed the Basic Education department said in 2018.
The future of these schools now lies with the Judiciary and the National Land Commission, NLC as they seek to repossess their plots.
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