Ministry of Education Sets Six-Month Deadline for School Land Title Deeds.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued a directive mandating all education officers to secure land title deeds for every public learning institution in Kenya. This move is aimed at protecting school land from encroachment and enabling development across the education sector.
While addressing education officers during the Inaugural Ministry of Education Conference held in Naivasha, the MoE Director General, Dr. Elyas Abdi, gave officers a six-month deadline to ensure all schools obtain the crucial ownership documents. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that securing these deeds is essential in safeguarding government land.
The workshop, held under the theme “Reforming Education in Kenya: the practice, opportunities and challenges,” sought to enhance collaboration, share solutions, and confront the pressing issues faced by education officers. One of the key concerns raised was the widespread lack of land title deeds, which has emerged as a significant threat to the integrity and future of public schools.
According to data from the Shule Yangu Campaign Alliance, 4,100 public schools are at immediate risk of land grabbing due to the absence of proper documentation. Their 2023 report further revealed that only 11,974 out of 32,643 public schools have received title deeds — a mere 37 percent nationwide.
Progress in securing these documents has been uneven across counties. Mandera has made remarkable strides by processing title deeds for 321 out of its 334 schools.
In contrast, not a single school in Turkana (473), Samburu (215), or Tana River (300) has obtained a title deed. Garissa County has also lagged behind, with all 256 schools remaining undocumented. Similar challenges persist in Wajir (311 schools) and Marsabit (231 schools).
The absence of legal ownership documents has not only exposed schools to land grabbing but also created vulnerabilities affecting student welfare. Without title deeds, schools are unable to construct fences, leaving students exposed to drug dealers and sexual predators.
An education officer expressed concern, saying that students in some areas were being lured into drug use due to lack of controlled environments. Another noted, “We cannot secure our school perimeters without the legal mandate; this puts our children at risk daily.”
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Dr. Abdi reiterated the Ministry’s position, calling on officers to treat the issue with urgency and dedication. He stated that securing title deeds must be considered a core part of their responsibility in order to protect the future of education in Kenya.
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