A contentious land dispute at North Highridge School in Parklands, Nairobi, has escalated to the Environment and Land Court (ELC), with the school accusing Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif of illegally seizing part of its compound.
The school alleges that land originally designated for educational purposes was fraudulently transferred and reregistered with the governor, who has begun constructing a 40-story apartment block on the disputed parcel, threatening the school’s operations and safety.
Court documents reveal a complex scheme involving government officials and statutory bodies who allegedly colluded to alter records and resurvey the land. The school’s original parcel, LR No. 209/8262, was reportedly changed to LR No. 209/21527 and allocated to Nairobi City County.
Similarly, a nearby parcel, LR No. 209/12673, was converted to LR No. 209/21526, transferred to a private individual, and later acquired by Governor Khalif. The school claims these actions involved using falsified certificates to legitimise the transfers, undermining their legal ownership.
The construction has disrupted learning significantly. The 40-storey project, now rising metres from classrooms, has eliminated playing fields, damaged perimeter fences, and displaced the principal’s residence.
North Highridge hosts an ECDE centre and primary, junior, and secondary sections; the loss of space has caused overcrowding and strained sanitation facilities. Parents and the Board of Management warn that the towering apartments pose safety risks and limit space for sports and extracurricular activities essential for students’ development.
The dispute was reported to Parklands Police Station in May 2024, but no action halted the project. Nairobi City County had confirmed the land’s educational purpose in 2019, yet in September 2024, it issued permits for 160 housing units on LR No. 209/21526 under Khalif’s ownership.
An April 2025 National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) report cautioned against premature construction, citing environmental concerns, but development continued unchecked.
The school’s petition seeks urgent court intervention to revoke the fraudulent titles, restore the land to its original purpose, and hold accountable those behind the transfers. Civil society groups have rallied behind the school, decrying systemic land-grabbing in Nairobi.
The ELC, established under Kenya’s Constitution to handle such disputes, is expected to scrutinise the alleged collusion and irregular approvals. As the case unfolds, parents and educators demand justice to protect North Highridge’s legacy and ensure a safe learning environment for over 1,000 students.