Homa bay: The government has intensified efforts to secure land ownership for public schools in Homa Bay County through an accelerated land titling program aimed at protecting educational institutions from encroachment and boundary disputes. Speaking during a sensitization meeting of school heads on title deeds acquisition held at Ogande Girls High School, Homa Bay County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi said the initiative seeks to accelerate the titling of public school land and simplify access to land services.
According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting brought together more than 100 school principals and Boards of Management (BOMs) with officials from the Ministry of Lands, National Land Commission (NLC), Ministry of Education and local administration. The meeting also aimed at addressing challenges in accessing land services.
The County Commissioner highlighted that the meeting was prompted by widespread concerns from school administrators and members of the public who view the process of acquiring title deeds as lengthy, expensive and difficult to navigate, a misconception the government is working to address through public sensitization. Mwiwawi emphasized the importance of direct interaction with land officials to demystify the process of obtaining title deeds.
He explained that bringing officers from the Ministry of Lands, the National Land Commission and other government agencies was aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring that accurate information reaches schools across the county. The government’s long-term objective is to ensure all public schools in Homa Bay eventually obtain title deeds, with the immediate target being 80 percent coverage by the end of the year.
According to Mwiwawi, cases of schools operating on land with unclear boundaries have contributed to disputes and encroachment, threatening the security of educational institutions. Securing title deeds is seen as critical in protecting public educational institutions from land grabbing and boundary disputes.
Homa Bay County Land Registrar Edward Bosire revealed that only 27 percent of schools in Homa Bay County currently have title deeds, but expressed confidence that the county could achieve full coverage through continued awareness campaigns and support from government agencies. Bosire mentioned that lack of information is a major reason behind the low number of titled school lands.
He noted the government is exploring policy interventions, including compulsory acquisition through the National Land Commission, to explore legal mechanisms that would allow faster acquisition and registration of such land for public institutions. Bosire further explained that acquiring title deeds involves a straightforward process that includes submitting an application, obtaining an official land search, and conducting ground verification.
National Land Commission Homa Bay County Coordinator Violet Odawa reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting public school land and facilitating title deed processing. She emphasized that public participation remains crucial in resolving disputes involving donated land, boundary disagreements, and changes in land use.
Quality Assurance and Standards Officer at the county department of education, Willis Owiti, highlighted that land registration is critical for the registration of schools under the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). Proper registration would support infrastructure development and improve learning environments in schools across the county.
