Age-old Kimathi Primary school faces demolition for shopping mall by private developer
Uncertainty has engulfed the 48-year-old Kimathi Primary School in Kamukunji Constituency, as a private developer threatens to demolish the school to make way for a shopping mall and community halls, putting the future of the institution at stake.
“The evacuation notice stated that the school was occupying the land illegally,” reported the authorities.
The school was established by the City Council in 1975 and has been run by the county government for over 48 years.
However, Bahati Member of County Assembly, Patrick Mwangi Macharia, strongly asserted that the land legally belonged to the school, countering the claim made by the evacuation notice.
“I have spoken to my boss, Governor Sakaja, and we won’t allow cartels to destroy this school. We want to give our students hope; hence, the school cannot be taken down,” Macharia said while standing in front of the school’s gate.
Macharia added that the land belongs to Nairobi County.
“I was there last night, and we demolished the notice he had put at the gate. You cannot come here and put a fake notice in a school. That is unacceptable,” Macharia added.
Buruburu Sub-County Police Commander Francis Kamau said they are looking into the matter.
The notice by the private developer stated that they legally owned the section of land where the school sits and had official documents from the National Land Commission.