Kenyan schoolchildren teargassed, protest playground removal

World Today

Kenyan school pupils hold up a placard brought by activists during a protest against the removal of their school’s playground, at the Langata Road Primary School, in Nairobi, Kenya Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Kenyan police tear-gassed schoolchildren demonstrating against the removal of their school’s playground on Monday, which has been allegedly grabbed by a powerful politician.

The students from Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi were in the front line of people pulling down a wall erected around the playground, which has been acquired by a private developer said to be a powerful politician, according to a Kenyan Human rights activist.

Some children were carried away, writhing in pain, screaming and choking, because of the tear-gas.
Police officers later brought dogs to the playground. Primary school children in Kenya are usually between six and 13 years of age.

David Muthengi, a Kenyan musician who was at the protest, said it took “guts” for someone to steal land from a primary school, questioning whether they would be able to justify their actions.

Police spokesman Masoud Mwinyi was not available for comment.

Report complied with information from AP