The fate of more than 200 students and teachers of a public school in Nakuru County hangs in the balance after a private developer threatened to demolish the institution.
The administrators of Rhino secondary school in Mwariki B area yesterday called on the government to step-in and investigate the true ownership of the 5.5-acre prime piece of land where the school sits.
In a notice, businesswoman Rose Wambui Kariuki, through law firm Rubua Ngure and Company Advocates, claims that she is the registered proprietor of the parcel of land.
“The school buildings have been put up on our client’s land and should be demolished forthwith,” reads part of the notice.
The school administration was further issued with a 21-day notice to vacate the land or face eviction to allow the tycoon undertake her projects.
According to the school administration, the parcel of land where the school stands was set aside for use by the neighbouring St Joseph’s Catholic Church, which covers 2 acres and the school.
“There is no road to the school and students are forced to use the church road. The school road has since been grabbed. Where will our children pass?” posed Zipporah Wanjiru, the parents, teachers association chairperson.
Ms Wanjiru further said that the school, which was started in 2012, has not been embroiled in any land ownership tussle with anybody until they received the notice dated February 18, instructing them to flatten the school buildings.
“It’s ironical that an individual can emerge demanding ownership of the land even when it is clear that this is public land,” said a member of the school board who sought anonymity.
A search of the land provided by the land registry in Nakuru indicates that the parcel of land where the church and school stands is a public property.
The school administration urged the National Lands Commission chairman, Mohammed Swazuri, Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu and Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to intervene and solve the matter to enable the students get their right to education.