TEAR GAS WAS fired at children as they protested against the ‘grabbing’ of their playground by a property developer.
Local media said that five children, who were pupils at Langa’ta Road Primary School, and one police officer were injured during the protest over the playground.
The tear gas was fired by police, AFP reports, with children aged as young as eight among the 100 primary school pupils on the scene. They were joined by a small group of activists. The group pushed over a newly built wall that separated playing fields and the school buildings, said AFP.
The Daily Nation says that the officer in charge of the operation has been suspended, and that it was promised by the Lands Cabinet secretary and National Land Commission chairman that the land will be returned to the school.
Local media also said that two activists were detained by police.
The Law Society of Kenya is reported to be assembling a team of lawyers to take legal proceedings against the police officers who used the tear gas.
Some of the children carried placards. ”Kenya: the land of shameless grabbers,” read one.
On Twitter, many commented using the hashtag #OccupyPlayGround:
- Additional reporting AFP
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