Garissa: Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has issued a warning to plotters of a plan to grab part of the Garissa Primary School grounds, where the county government is constructing a stadium. While fencing the whole area for construction, the contractor left out a part of land where a parking lot would be constructed, a parcel that has attracted the attention of people who intend to grab and build their business stalls.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking to concerned residents and stakeholders, Jama said that the land belongs to Garissa Primary School and that the government aims to develop the grounds to be used as pavilions when it comes to national celebrations and sporting activities. The Governor warned that no one would be allowed to grab public land in the area, adding that no individual could purport to own a title deed for public land.
‘As a government, we are working to develop these grounds to benefit the residents and help portray a good image as a county. We have a few elders who, instead of protecting the land, are the ones grabbing it. I don’t understand how you would acquire a title deed to a land that has been here since 1948 as a school property,’ he said.
Jama vowed that the government is committed to protecting public property and ensuring the school retains its rightful land for the benefit of students and future generations. ‘I will do everything within my capacity to protect this land,’ he said.
The Deputy Head Teacher of Garissa Primary School, Hamud Ibrahim, said the school property should be taken care of and the land grabbing should stop, adding that he supported the Governor and would stand by him to stop the vice. ‘We are urging those who are claiming to have title deeds to be at the forefront in protecting the school land and not using force to acquire it,’ Ibrahim said.