Government moves to reclaim grabbed public land in Elgeyo Marakwet County

ITEN: The government has embarked on a mission to survey and secure land meant for learning facilities in Elgeyo Marakwet County that has been massively encroached by some individuals.

This follows an outcry by parents that schools have been pushed to periphery thus impeding on normal learning process and their subsequent development.

Keiyo South Sub County has been pointed out as the most affected area with over 10 schools grappling with little space after the encroaches tilled literally to their doorsteps. A case in point is Kipasani primary school where the learning facility is sitting on a three acre plot after nine acres was invaded by encroachers.

Other schools experiencing the same problem are; Kamosong, Kapngetik, Sitotwo, Kipsaina, Yatiane, Kamwago, Kapsamich among others and the government is keen to reclaim them.

The encroachment is said to have started in the 1980s after original families who surrendered the land for school construction but several decades down the line some sold the compensated land and moved back to where the schools have been built.

Area deputy county commissioner Esther Mwamure regretted that the land issue has been persistent and the affected schools do not have titles making them miss out the government funds and well-wishers grants.

"We have embarked on survey work on the affected schools before fencing them off and seek title deeds. The institutions should have their rightful share to allow them operate as required," said the administrator.

Samuel Chemwolo, a local director of education said the encroachment have impeded the schools from expanding and generating income to supplement government funds to run the facilities without strain.

"In some schools the pupils have no playground for co-curricular activities thus preventing them from exploiting their talents," said the education officer.

He raised concern after encroachers thwarted efforts by school administration to build even latrines thus compromising the health status of the learners also rendering the schools poor since they cannot engage in income generating activities.

"Each of them has been compensated by the government and were given land twice the size they surrendered, some got 10 hectares and other 5 hectares. They have however ignored our directive to vacate forcing the school to shelve plans of building boarding facilities," said Chemwolo.

Winny Kipchumba, a parent at one of the affected school blamed previous administrators from the area for laxity in dealing with cases of land grabbing that is rampant in the area.

"Compensation of this people took place over thirty years ago, but past governments have turned a blind eye to the encroachment leaving parents with no choice but lead in efforts to reclaim parcels rightfully owned by the school," she said.

According to Emmanuel Birir the Chepkorio ward administrator the parents were alarmed by lack of space in the schools for expansion.

"Parents wanted to construct a secondary school and boarding facilities but the encroachers turned them away. I applaud them for initiating the process to reclaim the property," said Birir.