By Faith Anene, Kakamega
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to private developers with the appetite of grabbing land belonging to academic institutions across the country.
Dr Ogamba has ordered such individuals to vacate immediately or face legal consequences relating to land grabbing.
In his address during the official opening of 12 Junior Secondary classrooms at Kakamega primary school, the cabinet secretary said that he will ensure that any institution land that was grabbed for whatever reasons is repossessed.
“As the ministry of education, we know the challenges that our schools are facing. I have come to realize that some of our school’s land is being grabbed by private developers. I was in Mombasa recently where I came across a similar problem and I promise to solve the issue without any favour”, said Ogamba.
He added: ““Similarly am going to work with the Ministry of Land to ensure all our institutions not just educational institutions but all other government institutions get their titles so that we can protect our land”
Ogamba directed the directors of education from all the 47 counties to protect land belonging to learning institutions from being grabbed.
“I want to tell all our education directors in all the counties to undertake a notice to ensure that each and every institution’s land is protected and they get the land title deeds
Ogamba also said that the government is doing everything possible to ensure that the transition to Grade 9 is very smooth.
“We have come up with a strategy to build 16,000 classrooms to accommodate the grade 9 students. As I stand here today, 6,000 JSS teachers have been employed om permanent and pension. We will be employing another 30,000 teachers an emphasis on biology and science teachers, so that our students have enough teachers”, said Ogamba
The County director of education Hellen Nyang’au applauded the good work being performed by the CS.
“As Kakamega County, we were given 169 classrooms during the first phase and 235 in the second phase and we really appreciate it. The second phase, we are at 75 per cent complete. And I want to tell you, sir, that we have very good contractors”, explained Kakamega County Director of education.
Dickson Wanyangu the School head teacher called upon the CS to help them in securing a portion of land that is said to have been grabbed by a private developer.
“As a school we have a challenge of our lands which was partly taken. The court has made rulings more than five times. The last ruling was made while in Kisumu in May, where the court of appeal ruled that this land belongs to Kakamega, primary school. But unfortunately, the private developer has moved to the Supreme Court to raise a case,” said Wanyangu.
