Fate of special school hangs in the balance

• Auctioneers raid institution for children with cerebral palsy

The fate of a quasi-public special school in Nairobi hangs in the balance after auctioneers raided it against a court directive and took away documents and property.

The auctioneers descended on Mara Road Academy — which takes in children with cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome — a fortnight ago escorted by AP officers. The school is next to the Public Service Club in Upper Hill.

The issue has elicited conflicting positions from the Public Service Club management, trustees, the Nairobi PC and the proprietor of the school.

The proprietor, Mrs Esther Kirika, who been running the school since 1982, says she was recently given the go-ahead by the trustees to continue with the job. She produced documents showing that she paid the club more than Sh400,000 after the intervention of the Rent Tribunal last year.

On September 25, 2009, auctioneers moved in and seized the property to allegedly recover Sh469,820 in rent arrears. Other records show the school owed the club only Sh235,200 as at August 2009.

This accumulated after the club refused to accept banker’s cheques sent by the school, according to their lawyer, Mr Patterson Kamaara.

No notice

The auctioneers pounced again two weeks ago but this time there was no notice, according to the school’s manager, Mrs Gladwell Mungai.

Mr Kamaara said the auctioneers contravened their own code which says they should have given 14 days notice.

Trustee Jeremiah Kiereini said he was aware of a protracted battle but not of any eviction.

However, Nairobi provincial commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu, who is the chairman of the club by virtue of his office, says the action was legal.