Residents' homes enclosed by wall, public road blocked in Kahama

Residents of Kitwana Street in Kahama, Shinyanga region, are facing an unsettling situation as a private school owner has allegedly erected a wall that encloses several homes and blocked a public road. The residents report that this construction is happening without any prior notification or adherence to legal procedures, sparking a conflict with the school's owner, Steven Nyeriga.

Emanuel Godfrey's home foundation is among those enclosed by the wall. Nyeriga stated that before establishing the school, neighbors owned the surrounding land. Some of these areas were later sold through brokers, leading to the current challenges. The dispute began earlier this year, involving Nyeriga, who also serves as the treasurer for the Bariadi District Council in Simiyu region.

Neema Magoti, one of the affected residents, fears losing her home, which is now inside the wall. She built the house using funds from her vegetable business, investing years of hard work into what she believed was a secure property. Magoti claims Nyeriga's son approached her, asking her to vacate the land for the school's expansion.

She was shown an alternative location, but found it unsuitable, describing it as a rice paddy far from her current home and significantly less valuable. "I bought this plot for Sh2 million. The other place isn't even worth that. It's not possible for someone to just assign you a place to live without agreement," Magoti stated. She emphasized that she would not object to moving if legal procedures were followed and her rights were respected, demanding a fair assessment and compensation for her property.