The National Land Commission (NLC) has cautioned individuals occupying public school land without legal right that they risk losing the property as the government moves to reclaim land earmarked for education.

Commission Vice‑Chairperson Julie Ouma and Commissioner Susan Khakasa Oyatsi said the agency is intensifying efforts to identify affected schools, verify ownership and pursue recovery of public land.

During the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) conference, the commissioners announced a new initiative called Piga Nduru, urging school heads to report suspected illegal acquisition, encroachment and land disputes.

The programme also aims to help schools lacking proper ownership documents to obtain title deeds and develop land‑use plans that protect their properties.

The commission highlighted that many urban schools have lost portions of their land through irregular acquisition, reducing space for classrooms, playing fields and future expansion.

To address the issue, the NLC is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attorney General, the Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission and the Teachers Service Commission.

Commissioners acknowledged that some occupants may resist the recovery process, including through court action, which could delay the return of land to schools.

The NLC cited progress in Homa Bay County, where several schools have secured title deeds after sensitisation efforts aimed at protecting public school land.

School heads whose institutions have lost land or lack title deeds are instructed to report cases to the commission for assessment and possible intervention.

The recovery process will involve establishing ownership histories, determining how the land was acquired and pursuing appropriate legal steps to restore school property rights.