Trouble is brewing in Nakuru’s public schools as one after another troop to court seeking to safeguard their land.

More heartbreaking is a trend of these schools losing these court cases or in some instances choosing to settle and watch as a section of the playing field shrinks.

The recent case is that of St. Paul’s Primary school situated next to Menengai Social Hall. Reports indicate that the school was established sometime between 1948 and 1950.

Early this year, there were whispers that some individuals were allegedly creeping up on the school, with an intention to assume ownership of a part of the land.

Read: Puzzle of individuals claiming part of St. Paul’s Primary

Mtaa Wangu can now reveal that the said individual is the Christian Foundation Fellowship church.

According to a sales agreement seen by Mtaa Wangu, the church purchased 0.1858ha of the land labelled as Nakuru municipality block 13/116 for Sh 19million on 14^th October 2020.

The agreement stipulates that the land was sold to the church by a Samuel Murugi Mwangi and Peter Githinji Kamau.

Court records of the case E19/ 2023 indicate that the church, which produced receipts of payment, purchased the land with an intention to construct a Nakuru branch.

In the case, St Paul’s primary school was represented by state counsel. However, the Environment and Lands court made a judgment on 1st November 2023, where the case was withdrawn as lawyers representing both sides agreed that the survey report that had been made earlier be adopted.

The survey report lists beacons that were found on the land assigning the 0.1858 ha to the school.

In a phone interview with St. Paul's primary school head teacher Jacqueline Moraa, she notes that the school’s board of management will be meeting on November 4, to deliberate on the verdict given by the court.

Also Read: Lands of Deceit: The day a Lands court Judge fell prey to suspected land grabbers (Part 1)

Just some kilometers from St. Paul’s Primary school is Naka Primary school that has also faced a similar situation where a section of the land was ending into individuals' hands before locals and civil society groups stepped in to try save the situation.

It is a matter that saw Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria, the then Flamingo Ward MCA Moses Gichangi, the school head, blogger Elijah Kinyanjui and activist Boniface Mwangi charged on July 11, 2016 with destroying property valued at Sh 13 million.

According to court documents, the property belonged to ENSE Limited in the 10-acre parcel of land.

Mtaa Wangu has established that a court ruling dated 24^th March 2023 dismissed the case asking that Naka primary retain 3 acres out of the 10 acres previously owned by the school.

In Gilgil sub county Leleshwa land dispute remains a flesh in the lives of many locals.

The 75-acre piece of land was meant for St. Wandeti Girls School as well as a section of private citizens.

In several letters to various concerned government institutions, the locals led by Moses Gitonga from National Citizen Engagement Forum, argued that the land was grabbed by a section of corrupt cartels who allegedly colluded with the who is who in society including political class.

"Land meant for public utilities should be protected by all means and that is why we raised the issue of Leleshwa," states Gitonga during a phone interview with Mtaa Wangu.

According to Gitonga, the community had entered into an agreement that would see Anti-Stock Theft Unit(ASTU) build Utumishi Girls Academy on plot 216 of Leleshwa land, but this did not take after the land was allegedly grabbed by cartels leading to the invasion of the parcel of land.

Vincent Tanui from Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) says cases of land meant for public utilities being grabbed denies residents the right to get services.

Related: Lands of Deceit: The day a Lands court Judge fell prey to suspected land grabbers (Part 2)

On the issues of school land, Tanui says this can be addressed through ensuring all schools have land title deeds.

"We have individuals who are thirsty for public land and they end up interfering with service delivery," he says.

pmambili@gmail.com

Lands of Deceit: Helplessness as Nakuru public schools fail to safeguard their land

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Pristone Mambili