School land grabbing rampant in Meru

Meru

Monday July 24, 2023

KNA by Dickson Mwiti

Buuri Constituency MP Mugambi Rindikiiri has raised concerns over the increased cases of schools losing their parcels of land to influential people in the region.

According to the MP, the grabbing of these lands is being facilitated by corrupt land officials from the Meru lands registry and the issue should be addressed immediately to avoid more public lands being lost to the cartels.

“There are many fishy businesses taking place at the lands ministry and this has cost us many parcels of land belonging to our public schools. If this is not addressed, our schools will be left with no lands for expansion and this will have very negative effects on society,” said Rindikiiri.

The MP added that some of the affected schools had parcels of land totaling 20 acres and above, but at the moment some had as little as two acres remaining.

“I am disappointed by the way the lands registry is running its affairs in this county and we urgently need an overhaul if we have to safeguard public lands,” he said.

The MP said some of the affected schools include Ruiri day secondary and primary schools, Kanthongo primary schools which have only one and a half acres remaining from the initial 15 acres and Njotene primary schools which has lost 16 acres.

The MP called on the decentralization of the County registry for proper management and supervision to ensure the vice was stopped before.

Mr. Rindikiiri, as a result, is calling for decentralization of land registry offices, a move he believes will enhance transparency.

“I want us to have a registry in Timau for the Buuri West sub-county and another one in Kiirua for Buuri East. This way, it will be easier for us to monitor what is happening in the offices and keep the officers in check,” said the MP

Courtesy ; K . N. A