A tussle ensued at Lang’ata Road Primary School early in the morning as members of the civil society and the public stormed the premises in protest of the grabbing of the public land by a private developer.The land parcel that has come to be known by LR No. 209/12848 is said to have been acquired by Airport View Housing limited legally.The Nairobi County government is said to have approved the erection of a perimeter wall which separated the school from its playground.
The police engaged in running battles for the better part of the morning with the public even as the wall separating the school from its playground was demolished.The police would later unleash teargas canisters indiscriminately to disperse the crowds.Pupils aged between ages 8-14 had been displaying placards were at the receiving end as they sobbed profusely running helplessly to shield themselves from the chocking gas.
Lang’ata Road Primary School Protests
LR No. 209/12848 Land Case At the High Court in Milimani
This happened even as CS Charity Ngilu categorically stated that the disputed land belonged to Lang’ata Road Primary School.The chair of National Lands Commissioned also indicated the the grabbed land belonged to the school.Mr. Swazuri said this even as it emerged that several other public parcels of land were under threat of land grabbing.
Surprisingly,among such pieces of lad,Mr. Swazuri indicated that some belonged to police stations such as Pangani Police Station.He also stated that most public land has no tittle deed,a problem common with majority of public institutions.
He urged educational institutions to acquire title deeds for their land.The NLC chair further urged Kenyans to be vigilant and report any incidents of public land grabbing.
The circumstances under the land was acquired by Airport View Housing limited remains unclear even as it went to the High Court to seek legal redress against the Nairobi County.It remains to be seen how the whole story will unfold.
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