Public schools in Kayole grabbed; claims MP

Nairobi, Kenya: Bondeni Primary and Mwangaza Secondary schools in Kayole have been grabbed, Embakasi Central MP John Ndirangu has claimed.

The area leader has now threatened to demolish more than seven housing units built on two pieces of land excised from the two public schools.

Ndirangu averred that the school land was grabbed by the private developers bit by bit until the remaining space for expansion has been reduced almost to nothing.

"We have asked the Nairobi County Government to send surveyors to establish the exact acreage of land belonging to these two institutions. Mwangaza Secondary has been grabbed almost by half," said Ndirangu.

The furious legislator said that the appetite for the grabbers cannot be condoned since most pupils from the poor background cannot afford to go to other posh schools and only rely on the public schools.

If he makes good his threat, then hundreds of households could be without shelter in a matter of days.

He blamed the defunct Nairobi City Council for not stopping land grabbers, and that the problems facing various public institutions can only be solved if all the buildings in such plots are demolished.

"In Bondeni Primary we even have a private school built on the land belonging to the public school. If the surveyors are not sent here within a week, we will call the private surveyors and once we ascertain the validity of the land, we shall bring down any structure on school land," said Ndirangu.

The over 1700 pupils in Bondeni chanted 'haki yetu' in the school protesting at the grabbers, in which Ndirangu has vowed to reclaim back.

Peter Gichuki in a quick rejoinder claimed Ndirangu came to the area recently and does not understand the facts surrounding the piece of land belonging to the institution.

Gichuki while dismissing the threats of Ndirangu said that he acquired the land legally and has all the documents to ascertain that he is the rightful owner of the land.

“I bought this land from the defunct city council. Ndirangu is a visitor in this place, he should ask, then we can tell him the history of this land," said Gichuki.

He maintained that the land in question was an all-purpose land before the defunct City Council started selling it to willing buyers including the primary school.

Gichuki 70, now wants to seek legal address before Ndirangu descends into his four story building which he says has cost him his fortune.

"I will use every means to prove that I acquired the land legally and that I have all the documents. This land was an all-purpose land and bought just like the others," said Gichuki.

The revelation comes just less than a month after Langata Road Primary school playground almost ended up in the hands of four Indians who lands CS Charity Ngilu named as Madip Singh, Madit Singh, Haban Singh and Kamal Amrish Singh, all directors of the Airport View Housing Company LTD.