CS Ogamba Issues Directive on School Title Deeds

CS Ogamba Issues Directive on School Title Deeds

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has today instructed all Regional, County, and Sub-County Education Officers to ensure that schools in their jurisdictions obtain title deeds within the next year.

The CS highlighted that the absence of title deeds in many schools has hindered development, depriving students of a conducive learning environment. He assured that all land that had been illegally seized has been returned to the respective schools.

“We have tasked our directors in the ministry to conduct an audit of all schools to identify those lacking title deeds, so we can assist in securing these documents in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands,” he stated.

Ogamba’s Stance on School Land Grabbing

Numerous public schools are operating without legal proof of ownership, leaving them vulnerable to land grabbers. A 2023 study by the Shule Yangu campaign alliance revealed that only 11,974 out of the country’s 32,643 public schools—approximately 37 percent—possess title deeds. This indicates that over 20,000 schools are at risk of land fraud and encroachment.

CS Alice Wahome’s Warning to Land Grabbers

Lands CS Alice Wahome has also announced the establishment of regional teams to combat land grabbing and urged school administrators to urgently submit property records. “We are not just safeguarding land; we are safeguarding education,” she emphasized.

A senior official from the National Lands Commission noted that religious organizations holding original titles face bureaucratic delays and a lack of coordination among the Ministry of Lands, the National Land Commission, and the Survey of Kenya, which are significant barriers to progress. “Land grabbing persists due to systemic loopholes. We need a cohesive land policy and database,” he remarked.

As of 2019, only 30 percent of 32,354 public schools had obtained title deeds, leaving over 22,648 schools vulnerable to potential land grabbing. Approximately 4,100 schools have formally reported being at risk.

This information comes in light of reports that eight acres of land belonging to Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital have been encroached upon by an unidentified private developer, who has erected a temporary fence on the unfenced section of the property.