Kenya: Students tear-gassed as politician grabs their playground

Kenya, Jan 21: In a horrifying incident in Nairobi, school children were tear-gassed for protesting against a powerful politician and builder for grabbing their play area to build a parking lot for his hotel adjacent to the school.

The students from the Langata Road Primary School were pulling down a wall that was erected on their playground when the police attacked them with tear gases. The children were between the age of 8 and 14 years old. Boniface Mwangi, a human rights activists said,"The governor, the senator and other government officials are all scared of the politician, they cannot do anything to stop the playground from the being taken."

Heart-wrenching images of children being carried away writhing in pain, screaming and choking because of tear gas showed the brutality of the police. It is also said that the Police brought sniffer dogs to the ground later.

Samuel Arachi, the acting police officer said he had suspended the officer in charge present on the scene. In such a situation, tear gas is not appropriate since the protests were not violent. He further added that five people have been arrested, three for vandalism and 2 for incitement.

Elijah Mwangi, who was in charge of the police officers at the school, said he was just following orders.

OneIndia News