Private developer lays claim on Garissa High School land as parents, students protest move

Garissa High School students carrying placards at the front gate of their school. (Courtesy)

GARISSA— A private land developer is setting up structures within the Garissa High School compound as teachers, students fight off his plans.

On Tuesday, the students took to the streets to seek attention with the local authority. They carried placard that ready: ‘’Our land. Our school. Our future.’’

Addressing the press outside the school, the students said the developer was pushing into the school compound.

‘’We are not going to allow the developers to encroach into our space. We will fight and defend our compound from people who assume they are way above the law, Ahmed Mohamed,  a student leader said.

The school principal, Abdi Moulid said the developer said he found the notice and the structure up when he came back to the school from the April break.

‘’This impunity will not be allowed to continue,’’ he said, adding that the school would challenge the matter at the court if the local authority won’t help.

It is not the first time the Garisssa High School land was in the headline. In 2009, a group of developers laid claim on the land using what the school management termed as ‘’fake paper.’’

At least one student was killed following violent protest by the student.

The parents said they would challenge the developers.

The local lands office said the contested piece of land belongs to the school.