School, bank vandalised during anti-election protests in Kibera

A resident of Kibera slum walks past Equity bank that was damaged by protesters in Kibra constituency. The protesters in the slum were protesting the repeat presidential elections. This was on 27/10/2017. [photo/ Pius Cheruiyot]

Candidates from six schools are in a fix on where they will sit the national examinations after an academic institution associated with Opposition leader Raila Odinga in Kibera was vandalised.

Five classrooms, a library, store, three laboratories and a computer room at Raila Education Centre were damaged by unknown youth took advantage of the chaos in the informal settlement to loot.

This happened as residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements started counting the losses they suffered due to the violence that took place during the voting day and led to destruction of property worth millions of shillings.

Worth millions

Equity Bank’s Kibera branch was also vandalised just two months after the lender replaced glass windows that were broken after the disputed August poll.

In Kibera, community leaders said at least five people were shot, conflicting an earlier report by the State that only one person was shot.

Several residents showed the Saturday Standard injuries they sustained when they were beaten by the police.

 Raila Education Centre, which comprises primary and secondary sections also acts as an examination centre for five other schools.

Armed youth stormed the school on Thursday night at about 8pm and in the full view of the principal, Paul Ojera, who frantically tried to call the police, proceeded to break equipment, steal and attempt to burn it down.

By Friday morning, furniture and stationery in some of the classrooms were still smouldering.

Raila visited the school later and said: “They think they are punishing me but they are punishing themselves. Whatever they do, the donkey is tired.”

Tense atmosphere

Kilimani OCPD Joseph Muthee could not be reached for comment but school authorities estimated the damage at Sh20 million.

Raila, who founded the school through his charity ordered that repairs be started immediately.

KCPE exams are set to begin with rehearsals on Monday.

“How can you destroy development? They don’t know how they are chasing away people who want to help them,” Anne Owiti, the chair of the board of directors said. The school’s principal was however hopeful. “The students must sit their exam. They have been learning so they will sit the exams no matter what it takes,” he said.

The atmosphere in the area was tense the whole day until Raila arrived later in the afternoon.

Shops were closed as boulders placed on the roads on Thursday had not been removed.

At some point, there was a confrontation between the police and irate residents who had attempted to block a road.

The National Police Service did not mention any serious incidents in Nairobi in a statement released on Thursday night. It instead dwelled on the violence reported in parts of Nyanza and Eastern.

“The counties that reported serious incidences include Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay and Migori. There were minor incidents in some parts of Nairobi, Busia and Mombasa counties,” said NPS spokesman George Kinoti.