Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi condemns police brutality on Langa’ta Road Primary School children

Police officer attempts to disperse school children at Lang’ata Road Primary during protest against play ground grabbing by a developer.

Nairobi, Kenya: Political leaders have come out to condemn police brutality visited on school going children as they protested grabbing of their play ground in Nairobi.

CORD leader Raila Odinga termed the Monday incident brutality beyond words and greed beyond description.

The children from Lang’ata Road Primary School were dispersed by police using tear gas on Monday morning, leaving some of them with injuries.

“I have learnt with extreme shock and shame that pupils of Langa’ta Road Primary School have been injured after police threw tear gas canisters at them and other well-wishers who joined them to protest the grabbing of their school’s playground,” said Raila who is away in New Delhi.

Raila said he could not believe that police can actually deploy against primary school children and lobby tear gas at them to defend a land grabber.

“I stand with the parents, pupils and teachers of this school over this land. At the very least, I am prepared to give them the benefit of doubt that they own the land,” added Raila.

The Opposition leader said that somebody must be held accountable for this “primitive and shameful action”.

Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi, while condemning the incident, said seeing injured toddlers wailing for help from law enforcers is embarrassing to the world.

“The heavy handedness is out of this world. Whatever the rights of those who are claming the land, nothing is more shameful than trampling on innocent displeasure by children. The president must apologize to the children of Kenya and those who ordered the violation brought to book” he said.

Mudavadi said there are humane ways of talking to children rather than treating them as criminals and the president must apologise to Kenyan children and assure them of protection.

“In civilized society, children are treated with kids gloves even when they offend. To call riot police and tear gas them to stop them from voicing their legitimate concern portends a dangerous turn in law enforcement,” added Mudavadi.

The children reported to school Monday morning, from long holidays followed by two weeks of teachers’ strike, to find a perimeter wall on their school compound.

The perimeter wall was brought down before 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 stand-off has led to the suspension of Langata OCPD Elijah Mwangi as polife launched investigation into the controversy.