A head teacher has refuted claims that he erected personal rental houses on public land with intent of grabbing it.
John Mwania of Athi River Primary School in Mavoko Sub County said “idlers” were peddling rumors and propaganda that the six-single roomed mabati structures erected on the land are his personal property.
“This is not my personal property as it is rumored around, it is an initiative of Athi River Primary School approved by the board of management,” said Mwania on Tuesday.
“This is per the school’s Board of Management Committee Meeting Minutes Number 3/7/2016 on dumping, trespass, fencing and insecurity.”
Mwania said members of the public who want to see the minutes should either visit his office or contact the school’s Board of Management and Parents Teachers Association’s chairmen.
He said the management decided to erect the structures on the stretch of land as a lasting solution to trespassing, dumping, school fence vandalism and insecurity.
Mwania said the housing is “styled” fence that will also earn the school income since units not used by its support staff will be rented out to the public at sh.2,500 per month.
“The school has suffered garbage damping and fence vandalism for the last 15 years, we have decided to put up a fence that cannot be vandalized. We decided to bring in support staff and few rooms not occupied will be rented out to members of the public,” said Mwania.
Mwania said they will construct many structures stretched along vulnerable areas of the school fence.
He said as a school, they were convinced that the BOM’s decision of erecting the houses will end dumping, tress pass, vandalism and offer security to the school especially newly constructed boys’ dormitory which is barely 50 metres away from the fence.
Mwania said traders at the nearby Makadara market were dumping in the school through its fence.
“We have put up barbed wire fences in the area five times in vain, initial chain link was pulled down and stolen,” said Mwania.
He said the school cannot afford permanent structures.