More than 1,000 students will miss school in Tulwopmoi, Olrongai, in Rongai subcounty, Nakuru county, following a protracted battle for 16 acres of land donated by former president Daniel Moi to the community.

The battle for the soul of the donation is pitting the community and some developers who are reported to have secured millions of loans using the land as collateral.

Hundreds of the irate residents stormed the land and started tilling while erecting fences to secure themselves from the occupation of the claimed grabbers.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Cornelius Kemboi, former chairman of Tulwopmoi Primary School, said that the land was legitimately allocated to them by the late Moi in 2000.

“We were allocated three plots to set up the primary school, the secondary school and the church, and because there was a live fence inside the farm, we concentrated on one side and ignored the other, only to realise some individuals had grabbed”, he said.

Kemboi said that they have been utilising the land since then and set up the institutions and the church as directed by Moi, but were shocked by the recent development.

The primary school has over 600 students, while the secondary school has over 300 students.

Luka Tuigong, another elder, said that initially, they had approached Mzee Moi to purchase the land, but he chose to donate to the community freely.

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According to the community members, the individuals secured over Ksh17 million in loans using the land and expressed concern over the lack of due diligence by the banks and land officials.

“We initially approached Mzee Moi to buy the land, but he declined and instead donated it freely to the community for education and a church,” Tuigong explained.

“It is disturbing that individuals secured loans amounting to over Ksh17 million using this land, which shows a serious failure of due diligence by banks and land officials, and we are now appealing to the government for justice and protection.”

He said that they set up the AIC Tulwopmoi in 2015, which was officially opened by President Moi.

The residents have called on the government to accord them justice and protect them from the battle waged by the developers.