A private secondary school sitting on public land is among tens of properties demolished by the County Government of Machakos in the ongoing exercise to recover grabbed land in Utawala, Muthwani Ward in order to create room for public utilities.

A similar exercise to demolish properties on riparian land in a bid to avert flooding is nearing completion in the same area.

Airways High School — which was built on 5 acres piece of land and has operated for about ten years — was brought down by county government bulldozers as the owner watched.

Speaking to the Press at the site on Thursday, May 14, Lands, Urban Development, Housing and Roads County Executive Member Nathaniel Nganga said the county government was systematically demolishing all properties built on public land in Mavoko Sub-County.

“We don’t have public utilities in this area because land that had been set aside for that purpose had been grabbed. We don’t want wananchi to continue suffering because of a few greedy individuals,” said Nganga.