Mandera South MP, elders clash with residents over Gode Secondary School project
Led by elder Ahmed Abdul Rahim, the group said the school has brought much-needed relief to the community, and any disputes should be resolved amicably.
Elders from Gode Location in Mandera South Constituency on Monday appealed to 30 residents who have gone to court over the construction of Gode Secondary School to reconsider their decision.
Led by elder Ahmed Abdul Rahim, the group said the school has brought much-needed relief to the community, and any disputes should be resolved amicably.
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"We’ve had a long period without a school for our children to continue their education. We want those fighting over Gode Secondary School to stop and instead focus on the area’s development," said Ahmed.
The elders, joined by women from the community, staged a protest against the suspension of school operations, insisting the institution is vital for local children.
"People here today are the actual residents of Gode Location. They have been asking for a secondary school since 2013. The nearest school is about seven kilometres away," Ahmed added.
They accused those opposing the school of coming from a neighbouring location and undermining the needs of Gode residents.
Community asset
Mandera South MP Haro Abdul Ebrahim also criticised the opposition, terming it politically motivated. He said the Gode Secondary School project is a community asset and should not be turned into a political tool.
"I see politics in all this because elections are approaching. I urge everyone to stop using development initiatives for political gain," said Haro.
The MP maintained that residents were consulted before construction began, stressing that "it is not possible to build a school without involving the community, since it is their children who will study there."
Project challenged in court
However, 30 Kotulo Division residents, led by Abdia Abdula Hassan, have challenged the project in court, arguing that it violates constitutional requirements for public participation.
Through lawyer Pauline Kiteng’e, the petitioners want the construction halted, accusing the MP and the NG-CDF Board of secretly awarding contracts without community input.
"The MP has secretly engaged contractors without involving the public. This is a violation of their constitutional rights," Kiteng’e told the court.
They further argued that funds should have been directed to upgrading the existing Borehole Eleven Secondary School, which is in poor condition and lacks basic facilities, instead of building a new school nearby.
In their petition, they warned that inequitable resource allocation risks fuelling unrest in the community.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the matter raises "weighty constitutional issues" and transferred the case to the Garissa High Court for hearing and determination.
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