Westlands Primary raises alarm over excavation next to school wall

Westlands Primary School has raised alarm over deep excavation along the institution’s perimeter wall.

Area MP Tim Wanyonyi on Monday rushed to the institution after the school raised concern over the excavation, for fear that it could compromise the perimeter wall's stractural integrity.

"My office is on high alert and should the developer continue activities inside the school land, we shall mobilise efforts to stop the encroachment,” Wanyonyi said.

The school's head teacher, Kennedy Kyeva, said: "The excavations were extended to the wall with some undertones that the school was within their land.”

The concerns were echoed by members of the community around the school.

‘‘The excavators were here very early in the morning so we didn't know their motive but before we could conceive anything, they started excavating deeply towards the school wall, which as we speak is almost collapsing," John Barasa, a member of Nyumba Kumi said.

"As the MP puts it, we as community members will not allow such to happen. We shall remain vigilant to stop any attempt to encroach into school," he said.

Meanwhile, Nairobi County Assembly Planning Committee chairman Alvin Palapala said the county planning department should not allow such excavation next to a school.

"We shall call and put on check those responsible. Meanwhile that site should be closed with immediate effect because there are gross violation of the law." Palapala said.

Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome recently called on principals, head teachers and local communities to submit documents of school properties to the ministry.

The CS highlighted the urgency of the issue, particularly in Nairobi and other urban areas, where school lands are at a higher risk of encroachment. 

A 2019 report indicated that only 30 per cent of Kenya's public schools had secured title deeds, leaving over 22,000 without the important documentation.