Residents of Githunguri location in Athi River sub county have ordered a private investor to quit a piece of public land before they forcefully evict him.
Led by Katani MCA Domnic Wamaitha, the residents accused the investor of grabbing the two and a half acres of land meant for public utility to construct a private school.
“Airways Secondary School in Githunguri is lying on grabbed land meant for public utility and we are going to repossess it. The school’s director should be well informed that we are going to get that land back,” said Mr Wamaitha.
Mr Wamaitha who addressed the public during the commissioning of eight classrooms and toilets constructed by Mavoko CDF at Githunguri Primary School on Monday said the land will be used to establish Githunguri Secondary School.
“We are not going to negotiate with anybody on that land, we will construct a public secondary school on it since we lack one in this region,” he said.
He said all parcels of land secured for public utilities in the region had been well demarcated with beacons, arguing that the private school falls within the demarcations.
“Population growth in Githunguri is rising very fast, development is apparently 50 per cent and we have fears as area leaders that we might not be able to accommodate children in our few schools when development gets to 70 per cent hence cannot tolerate land grabbing of public land in this region,” he said.
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, who addressed the same meeting, said he will seek National Land Commission Chairman, Muhammad Swazuri’s intervention on the disputed land.
Mr Makau said the lands commission should seize the land's title deed so that it be utilised by the community to establish Githunguri Secondary School.
He said Airways Secondary School director should remove his buildings, among other structures, and peacefully quit the land before members of the community take action.