Tobiko orders release of four people arrested during Lang’ata Primary land protest

Nairobi, Kenya: Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has directed that four suspects arrested during a protest to reclaim the Langata Road Primary School field be released.

The four had been charged before Kibera Law Courts with malicious damage, incitement to violence and taking part in a riot.

Tobiko directed that the files of the four be forwarded to his office for perusal and further directions.

The four were arrested on Monday at the site after police tear-gassed pupils and activists who were fighting to reclaim the grabbed land.

The incident drew condemnation from local and international quarters.

President Uhuru Kenyatta lambasted officials in the Ministry of Lands, the National Land Commission and the police following the incident.

The headmaster of the school was also put on spot for allowing the pupils to demolish a perimeter wall at the contentious piece of land.

“The headmaster should also answer a couple of questions. How do you allow your students to go and demolish walls… what if that wall fell on those children?” the President posed.

He said government officials must take responsibility for their actions

“It is deplorable in the manner in which the police handled those young children and indeed action will be taken against the officers responsible. But what is more disappointing to me is the fact that we even had to get to that level. Where the Ministry of Lands… was where was the National Land Commission. Why did they not resolve this problem; what were they doing?” he asked.

Top government officials led by Cabinet Secretaries Joseph Nkaissery (Interior), Charity Ngilu (Lands), National Land Commission Chairman Muhamad Swazuri, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Education PS Richard Belio Kipsang and area MP Ken Okoth trooped to the school to assure them the land belongs to them.

The directors of the company claiming ownership of the land remain a mystery.

Demonstrations on the land turned violent at the school when police teargassed protesters including pupils.

Lang’ata OCPD Elijah Mwangi, who led the assault on the children, has been suspended to allow investigations into the police actions.