A brewing scandal in Nairobi’s upscale Parklands neighborhood has thrust Mandera County Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif into the spotlight, with social media sleuths and residents accusing him of spearheading a brazen attempt to develop luxury apartments on land reserved for a public primary school.
The allegations, which surfaced prominently in recent weeks, center on North Highridge Primary School at 6th Parklands Avenue, a plot officials say has been targeted despite a March 2025 court order prohibiting any development in the area.
The controversy erupted after images of a construction siteboard for “Asili Hills Service Apartments” began circulating online, prominently displaying plot number LR No. 209/21526 and naming Mohamed Khalif Adan as the developer.
The project promises high-end, fully furnished 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units overlooking Karura Forest, marketed by MaCaash Investments as a prime investment opportunity in one of Nairobi’s most desirable areas.
However, land records experts and residents quickly debunked the plot number as fictitious, claiming it represents an unauthorized subdivision of the legitimate LR No. 209/8262, which houses the school and is officially designated for public educational use.
On March 5, 2025, the Environment and Land Court issued orders halting all development applications on LR No. 209/8262, citing ongoing disputes over public land encroachments in Parklands.
Despite this, reports indicate construction activities resumed earlier this month, with the site’s contractor, Eastmann Properties Limited, having its compliance certificate briefly suspended before it was reinstated under questionable circumstances.
Parklands Residents Association has repeatedly flagged the issue on social media, warning that “the rogue developers are back like they never left,” in defiance of the court’s directive.
Social media users were instrumental in connecting the dots to Governor Khalif, whose full name matches the developer’s on the siteboard. Posts linking him to the project have garnered thousands of views, amplifying calls for accountability.
One viral thread from September 11 highlighted video footage of earthmovers at the site, labeling it “new government, same sh*t” in reference to persistent land grabbing under successive administrations.
“This is impunity at its peak—a sitting governor turning a public school into luxury pads while kids lose their learning space,” fumed one parent in a widely shared comment.
The implicated land, LR No. 209/8262, has a history tied to public institutions, with records dating back decades showing allocations for educational and community purposes.
North Highridge Primary School, serving hundreds of students from the surrounding middle-class enclave, now faces existential threats as portions of its compound have allegedly been fenced off for the apartment project.
Residents and civil society groups, including the Parklands Residents Association, have petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the National Land Commission (NLC) to investigate, pointing to potential collusion between developers and county officials.
Governor Khalif, who has faced prior accusations of land irregularities in Mandera County— including claims of owning dozens of untitled plots there—has not publicly responded to the Parklands allegations as of press time.
His office did not reply to requests for comment from this outlet. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior, listed as stakeholders in Parklands land matters alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service, have remained silent, raising questions about oversight in a city plagued by “micro land grabbing” of public spaces.
“This isn’t just about one plot; it’s symptomatic of how powerful figures exploit loopholes to plunder assets meant for the public good,” said Eric Wamae, a land rights advocate with the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Parents at North Highridge School, many of whom rallied outside the site last week, expressed fears that the development could displace students and erode educational access in an already strained urban environment.
As pressure builds for enforcement of the March court orders, activists are urging swift intervention from anti-graft bodies to halt construction, verify land titles, and potentially restore the full parcel to the school.
With Nairobi’s real estate boom fueling such disputes, the case could set a precedent for protecting public lands amid private ambitions—or expose deeper systemic failures in governance.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
