KENYA: KCCB term Police Action on Lang’ata Road Primary School Pupils Unacceptable
The Catholic
Church in Kenya has strongly criticized the police action against the Lang’ata
Road Primary School Pupils and called it unacceptable in the society.
Church in Kenya has strongly criticized the police action against the Lang’ata
Road Primary School Pupils and called it unacceptable in the society.
In a press
statement issued on Tuesday 20th, January and signed by the Vice
Chairman of Commission for Education & Religious Education of Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley stated that the
Bishops conference strongly condemns over the excessive use of force, the use of
teargas and display of guns and police dogs on pupils by the officers to disperse
unarmed children who were protesting over the grabbing of their school playing
field by a private developer.
statement issued on Tuesday 20th, January and signed by the Vice
Chairman of Commission for Education & Religious Education of Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley stated that the
Bishops conference strongly condemns over the excessive use of force, the use of
teargas and display of guns and police dogs on pupils by the officers to disperse
unarmed children who were protesting over the grabbing of their school playing
field by a private developer.
The press
statement is issued by the commission following an incidence that happened on Monday
19th January 2015, where Police tear-gassed a group of school children
who were protesting the loss of their playground to a private land developer.
Children wearing green school uniforms were seen scampering away from the
clouds of gas, coughing and choking. At least three children were reportedly
injured in the commotion.
statement is issued by the commission following an incidence that happened on Monday
19th January 2015, where Police tear-gassed a group of school children
who were protesting the loss of their playground to a private land developer.
Children wearing green school uniforms were seen scampering away from the
clouds of gas, coughing and choking. At least three children were reportedly
injured in the commotion.
 |
| Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley |
“The police were in no danger and had no reason
whatsoever to resort to use of brutal force. This was a blatant violation of
the Children’s Act 2010 which entitles children to protection against any form
of physical and psychological abuse,” read part of the statement.
whatsoever to resort to use of brutal force. This was a blatant violation of
the Children’s Act 2010 which entitles children to protection against any form
of physical and psychological abuse,” read part of the statement.
At the same
time, KCCB faulted the teachers and activists who spearheaded the
demonstrations saying they are concerned about the deliberate use of children
by civil society activists and politicians in demonstrations, and subsequently,
exposing children to danger.
time, KCCB faulted the teachers and activists who spearheaded the
demonstrations saying they are concerned about the deliberate use of children
by civil society activists and politicians in demonstrations, and subsequently,
exposing children to danger.
“Lang’ata
Road is a busy highway and the children could have been knocked down by speeding
vehicles as they fled from the police. It is irresponsible for any adult to
expose children to danger whatever the cause one may be agitating for,” read the
statement.
Road is a busy highway and the children could have been knocked down by speeding
vehicles as they fled from the police. It is irresponsible for any adult to
expose children to danger whatever the cause one may be agitating for,” read the
statement.
Terming the
incident regrettable that children have to resort to demonstrations out
of desperation as the relevant government authorities did not take time to
address issues affecting them, the Bishops Conference called on the government
to move with immediate effect and get to the bottom of the matter. “Anybody
found responsible for exposing the
incident regrettable that children have to resort to demonstrations out
of desperation as the relevant government authorities did not take time to
address issues affecting them, the Bishops Conference called on the government
to move with immediate effect and get to the bottom of the matter. “Anybody
found responsible for exposing the
children to danger must be held accountable and more
action must be taken on all parties that participated in visiting brutality on
children,” read the the statement.
action must be taken on all parties that participated in visiting brutality on
children,” read the the statement.
According to the statement, the Bishops are concerned and
are deeply disturbed by the increasing incidences of grabbing of public utility
land by the so called ‘private developers’. “We demand that the government
moves quickly to identify and bring to book these the so-called ‘private
developers’ who are blatantly grabbing public school land and posing a threat
to the education and welfare of the children,” read the statement.
are deeply disturbed by the increasing incidences of grabbing of public utility
land by the so called ‘private developers’. “We demand that the government
moves quickly to identify and bring to book these the so-called ‘private
developers’ who are blatantly grabbing public school land and posing a threat
to the education and welfare of the children,” read the statement.
By Pamela
Adinda, AMECEA Online News Reporter
Adinda, AMECEA Online News Reporter
