Public schools in Nairobi to get title deeds

The government has said that it will process title deeds for all public primary schools in Nairobi County.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said that it was working closely with the County Government of Nairobi to secure title deeds for schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i said that his Ministry will also revoke all title deeds of grabbed public primary schools land.

The decision was reached during a meeting of senior ministry officials led by Matiang’i, the Governor of Nairobi County Dr. Evans Kidero and the chairman of the National Land Commission (NLC) Muhammad Swazuri at Jogoo House on Thursday.

During the meeting, Matiang’i said that Nairobi had a shortage of 24,000 places for form one, given the number of candidates who sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

He further said that the government must protect public schools in Nairobi for the sake of the hundreds of children who are entitled to a basic education in the country.

Stakeholders, however, should jointly explore ways of getting back to school children of school going age.

The government said that it will ensure that all basic education institutions that provided formal and alternative basic education and training are registered to establish the capacity of the county to provide such a service.

“Institutions which needed support for expansion would be identified so that they would be upgraded and expanded their infrastructure,” said Matiang’i.

Governor Kidero said that over 100,000 children roam the streets and estates of Nairobi and end up becoming criminals because of deprivation.

Dr. Kidero said that of the 291 schools in Nairobi, 86 of them had suffered encroachment or had their land grabbed, something he says must be addressed immediately.