MP, residents ‘repossess’ grabbed school land

There was drama at Naka Primary School in Nakuru County after area MP David Gikaria led pupils and residents in demolishing a perimeter fence erected around a controversial piece of land said to have been grabbed by a private developer.

The Nakuru Town East MP arrived at the school accompanied by more than 30 youth armed with metal bars which they used to bring down the perimeter fence around the 10 acre piece of land as pupils who were holding placards watched.

The MP personally instructed the youth on which corner of the fence to approach first as anti-riot police watched from a distance.

At one time, the youth involved in the demolition engaged in verbal confrontation with the police after one officer attempted to arrest one of them.

The demolition team also included human rights activists led by Boniface Mwangi of Shule Yangu Alliance which was created after the demolition of a fence at Langata Road Primary School last year.

More anti-riot police officers led by Nakuru Town head of AP Operations Barnabas Kimutai and Bondeni Police Station OCS Pascal Kiamba were called in to offer reinforcement but failed to halt the demolition as pupils defied pleas to distance themselves from the youth who were bringing down the perimeter wall.

It took less than three hours to demolish the fence with Gikaria and the youth leaving hurriedly after the exercise.

On their part, Boniface Mwangi and Flamingo Ward MCA Moses Gichangi, accused the National Land Commission of applying double standards on the matter.

They questioned how NLC Chairman Dr. Muhammed Swazuri would visit the school in November last year and affirm that school land had been grabbed only for the same commission to revert ownership of the land to NC Limited that is associated with former Nakuru Mayor Mohammed Surraw.

The Court had last year ruled that the 10-acre parcel of land belongs to Naka Primary School. Currently the school stands on 3 acre piece of land.

Report by Evans Asiba