CHIEF Murinye has maintained that Riverton Academy Extension (Murinye) is an illegality and should be demolished to preserve the grazing land.
Riverton Academy Extension (Murinye) is at the centre of a dispute between Chief Murinye and owner Philemon Mutangiri, with the former accusing the latter of constructing the school on unapproved land.
Mutangiri has denied Chief Murinye’s claims, citing a deal reportedly struck between the two involving the installation of a US$7,000 transformer for the chief’s homestead.
Chief Murinye insisted the school should be demolished as it did not pass through the required legal channels.
“In the first instance, there is no Riverton Academy Extension (Murinye) because it has not been established in terms of the laws of the country.
“The due process was not followed. All I know is that an application was made to council and that application has not yet been completed.
“I am not anti-development, but what is fundamental is that anybody who wants to invest should do so within the ambits of the law. You cannot just come and allocate yourself a piece of land in the grazing lands like what Mr Mutangiri has done and develop it for personal aggrandisement at the expense of poor villagers,” said Chief Murinye.
On Sunday, Chief Murinye blocked parents attempting to drop children at Riverton Academy Extension (Murinye) in preparation for Tuesday’s school reopening.
Chief Murinye claimed underhand activities enabled the school’s construction.
“There is no licence given by the Ministry of Education to authorise that school at the moment. It is an illegal school.
“I was not aware for a very long time until the school was at an advanced stage. He had bribed two of my village heads. He made them write to say, ‘we are giving you 30 hectares of land in their villages’,” he said.
