A Primary school in Nyamira South Sub County is accusing a neighbouring church for trying to grab its land where it’s been sitting for a long time.
Riamandere D.E.B primary school Parents Association (PA) chairperson Mr James Ong’era said that the tussle over the piece of land has been in existence since 1998 when the Catholic Church leadership claimed ownership of part of the parcel.
He said the church had acquired a fake title deed which they were using to claim part of the piece of land.
“The controversy has been around since 1998 when the church (Catholic) being not even the sponsor of our school came with a doctored title deed claiming to own part of the school’s land.
"The church was ordered to return the fake deed to the lands ministry but never did so, we reported the matter to authorities who promised to follow on the matter all in vain," said Ong’era.
Ong’era added that the church hired goons who accessed the school’s compound and fenced the piece in question (0.8 hectares) claiming it to be theirs.
The school established later it was fogged. The school management then reported the incident to the area assistant county commissioner (ACC) and presented the school’s title deed of 3.8 Hectares and promised to visit the site.
He said that they are now at crossroads after their efforts to solve the crisis hit a dead end as the officials from the lands department who promised to visit the school in January failed to turn up.
“We are living with a lot of tension in the school as the fight over the land still gets hotter .Our efforts are proving to be futile, learning is paralyzed as the church threatens to evict the school from the land. Everything is at a standstill.
"We want urgent intervention so as the situation can be saved and our learners get humble time to study. We also want the authorities to protect our land from grabber," he stated.
The school has owned the land in question since 1972 when it was established.
They have urged the National Land Commission to intervene and save their school's land saying efforts to use local authorities have been futile.
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