Residents storm church over alleged grabbing of polytechnic land

By Enock Okong’o

The residents of Bosingi village in Bobasi Constituency stormed a church they claim has grabbed land reserved for a village polytechnic.

They claimed that the Catholic Church had converted the old building that housed Isamwera Polytechnic into a church.

“The community had dedicated the land for the construction of a polytechnic but the church has decided to encroach it,” said Enock Ogega, one of the villagers.

He said that they tried to settle the matter between them amicably but they failed to come to an agreement.

The concerned parents who armed themselves with spears, machetes and clubs marched to the land and vowed to clobber any worshipper who dared to enter the premises.

Amos Andama. Photo by Enock Okong’o.

Their tumult attracted the area Chief who called the police from Itibo station to calm down the crowd.

The Chief said that he was aware about the polytechnic being established by the community on the land but could not explain why the church had taken over.

“The community started the institution to prevent the youth from walking for long distances in search of education,” he said.

The administrator asked the residents to follow the right procedure for airing their grievances instead of using violence.

“We are in modern times where people should embrace dialogue in solving conflicts instead of resorting to violence,” he added.

While accusing the Kisii Land registry office for conspiring with the Catholic Church to grab the land, th residents appealed to Kisii County governor Simba Arati to intervene and salvage their land.

Kisii County Executive Committee Secretary for Education and Vocational Training Mr. Andama Nyamoko said that he was aware of the existence of the polytechnic but declined to give more information about the same.

He however promised to inquire more details about the issue and call for a presser.