President Uhuru Kenyatta promises action against Ngilu ministry over Langata school land tussle

NAIROBI, KENYA : President Uhuru Kenyatta has censured the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission for failing to address the Langata Road Primary School land issue until it got out of hand resulting to the protest yesterday.

He said while action will be taken against the police who tear-gassed protesting pupils, Ministry of Land officials and those of the National Land Commission will also not be spared.

“We will begin to take action against Government officials who fail in their mandates,” President Kenyatta said.

He added: “I am disappointed at what happened at the Langata Road Primary School. Where were the officials from the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission? The issue has been there since December, why didn’t they act then?” President Kenyatta said.

The President spoke at Kenyatta International Conventional Centre (KICC) when he launched the Kenya Foreign and Diaspora policies. This is the first time since independence that Kenya is launching a published foreign policy.

Saying time had reached for action to be taken against Government officials who failed in their duties, President Kenyatta said the head teacher of the school should also answer questions about the incident.

“How could he (the head teacher) allow young children under his care to behave the way they did. Even when we want to protest, we must do it in a civilized manner and not involve children,” the President said.

The Head of State emphasised that Government officials must take their duties seriously.