Langata OCPD interdicted over teargas use

Langata police boss Elijah Mwangi had been interdicted after pupils were teargassed at the Langata Road primary in Nairobi during a demonstration Monday, Acting Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi has said.

He said five people including three who were vandalising guardrails and two who were inciting the children to protest were arrested.

“We take great exception to officers who misuse their power and we have already summoned the commanders of these officers to come and provide an elaborate report on the occurrence,” said Mr Arachi.

Mr Mwangi and other officers who were at the site were summoned to Jogoo House where they recorded statements.

Arachi said when investigations are complete they will take action on the officers who will be found culpable. Arachi, through his spokesman Masood Mwinyi, said they will not allow officers to use force on citizens, and more so on children, whether in demonstrations or otherwise.

He said it was insensitive for the organisers of the protest to involve children. “These children ought to have been in school and not outside taking part in the demonstration. In any case, the issue is already being addressed by concerned authorities,” he said.

The police boss argued that the demonstration had not been formerly authorised as the proper procedures to seek its staging had not been followed. However, the organiser, Boniface Mwangi said they had followed all the procedures before they staged the protest.