Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo on Thursday 28,2019 led protesters in the Central Kenya county as they traversed the county agitating for action.
Kabogo and the protesters were marching through the streets over the grabbing of land that belongs to the Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).
The former governor accused the current administration of allowing cartels to illegally grab parcels of land within the county.
Former Governor William Kabogo with nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura during protests in Kiambu
The governor threatened to remove those who he accused of grabbing the institution’s land within seven days if the county government does not act.
“I will no longer sit and tolerate this reckless grabbing of land. I will ensure that KIST land is returned even if I have to do it myself. This land will never be grabbed again, over my dead body!” Kabogo declared.
KIST land grabbing
A number of protests have been held by KIST students and local leaders over the past few years including one protest where Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu joined students in removing beacons within the school compound.
Part of the issue with the ownership of the land lies in unclear registration status of the Institution.
Governor Waititu joins students in uprooting a beacon at KIST during past protests
Governor Waititu joins students in uprooting a beacon at KIST during past protests
“This is unacceptable.We were so angry to learn that the institute has not been registered since it owns no land after it was taken away by some people.
“That now means our certificates will not be recognized. We shall not take that lying down,” student leader Newton Maina stated in 2017.
The school board has always maintained that they are pursuing legal documents on the ownership of the contested land.
Protests over land grabbing in KIST, Kiambu County