By Kabaraji Richard
The National Government has put on notice all those who have grabbed or intend to grab public land meant for technical institutions across the country.
Speaking during the second annual International Research Conference and first innovations at the Kitale National Polytechnic, Principal Secretary (PS) at the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) Dr. Esther Muoria revealed that they have since sought help from other government agencies to see to it that all grabbed land earmarked for technical institutions is brought back with the grabbers being brought to book.
PS Muoria also noted that the said grabbers had already infiltrated some of the institutions with Technical Colleges for the deaf being hard hit, losing nearly all its land.
“Most of our land has been taken over by individuals who think it has no use making us unable to conduct our research well,” the PS said.
High land price for Government projects
She noted that the government has been forced to spend a lot of money in buying land whose price has skyrocketed in the recent past due to the move by the grabbers to hive off any government land.
“In Kenya, land is the most expensive commodity as of now and more expensive when the owner knows that they are selling it for a government project,” PS Muoria said.
Most of the TVET institutions including the Kitale one are battling numerous grabbers who have hived off huge chunks of land and built mansions.
But the PS says the process to bring down illegal structures in public land is underway in earnest, as the Government moves to recover the grabbed land.
“I am warning all those who want to grab TVET land go ahead and do it, but at their own peril as this government will catch up with them,” she said adding that”it will go the Mavoko way so do not try the government.”
On TVET funding, the PS has urged the institutions to find ways of getting extra cash as the government was working on a tight budget.
“We have seen dwindling revenue on the government part and I urge all the institutions under the national government to look at ways to cut on their expenditure in a bid to stay afloat.”
Generate own income
She has also urged the educational institutions to utilize some of its resources to see to it that it generates some income .
“As we strive to plant trees as par the government’s directive, let’s also plant fruit trees to cut on the fruit budget and also plant some of the crops we need to reduce our reliance on what we can produce internally.”
The Kitale National Polytechnic conference brought together technical and national polytechnics across the North Rift region.
It showcased different innovations that have been undertaken to improve the working environment of locals.
