Thugs destroy school in night raid

By Renson Mnyamwezi

Taita-Taveta County

Thugs raided a secondary school in Mwatate District, Taita-Taveta County and destroyed property worth millions of shillings.

The gang flattened Kombolio Secondary School at Maktau location over land dispute.

The school had recently been given Sh1 million by Mwatate Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

It has also emerged that the local community had for many years been at loggerheads with a Mombasa businessman, Gasper Walele, over ownership of the parcel of land on which the school is built.

“I have a title deed of the five-acre plot where the school is being built. I got the documents 10 years ago,” said Walele in Mombasa.

He denied claims that he hired a gang to destroy property at the school. “I have not in anyway sent a gang to destroy the school as claimed by some politicians,” he said. The businessman claimed he had earlier notified the school management committee and the government to stop the construction of the school. He further alleged that he had sent the same correspondence to the DC and the area MP.

Shocked

However, the MP, Assistant minister for Education Calist Mwatela, said he was shocked to learn that the community project had been destroyed. He asked the police to investigate and arrest the culprits.

Mwatela said the destruction was a major drawback to development as the CDF committee had given the funds for the construction of the school and purchase of furniture.

“It is a shame. How do some people destroy an education project that is benefiting the community?” wondered the minister, who talked to The Standard on phone while he was in Uganda on Tuesday.

Mwatate DC Shufaa Mwijuma said investigations had commenced.

“Police are investigating the incident and anyone found to have been involved in the act will be arrested and prosecuted,” warned the DC who is also the chairman of the district land control board.

Ms Mwijuma asked the Ministry of Lands to intervene and end the incessant wrangling between the community and the businessman.

“We want land officers to tell us who between the community and the businessman owns the land,” added the administrator