Kenya school children protest land-grab of their school playground

In Nairobi, Kenya, the Standard Digital news has said that Police Monday 19 January threw tear gas canisters at a group of school children of Langata Road Primary who together with activists protested the grabbing of the school’s playground.

According to the news report, three children have been injured while others were choked by the tear gas. The children together with other protesters pulled down a perimeter wall that had been built on the school ground.

The children who reported to school Monday found the school field fenced off. The perimeter wall was brought down and the children started to play on the field. Many of the children were carrying twigs and placards condemning the grabbing. After the wall was brought down, police chased Kibra MP Ken Okoth with other activists for a short while before giving up as the children broke in songs. The drama affected traffic flow on the busy Langata Road.

More police officers later arrived at the school with dogs and tried to chase away the children in vain. No arrests were was made.

Land grabs are not entirely uncommon in Kenya.