This Is What Celebrities Are Saying About Yesterday’s Happenings At Lang’ata Primary School
Yesterday saw pupils of Lang’ata Primary School get tear-gassed by police officers after they brought down a perimeter wall put up by a private developer who is said to have grabbed their playground.
The incident which has provoked condemnation from all corners of the globe and prompted interior CS Joseph Nkaissery to visit the school and tender an apology to the pupils has had almost everyone speaking about it.
In our offices, a heated debate is ongoing as writers express different views over the same. This is the same thing, we believe is going on in the country. This is why we have sampled for you some of the reactions from celebrities who have expressed different views over the same:
Radio Citizen’s Uncle Fred Obach Machoka said:
The director of Digital Communication in the office of the President, Dennis Itumbi posted on his facebook page saying:
1. Let me very clear on where I stand on the issue of Langata -It is unacceptable to stop every demo just for the sake of it #LangataPrimary
2. Using Children in Demos is wrong, I sympathize with parents who got calls telling them their children are in hospital #LangataPrimary
3. Children or no children, picketing should be allowed&demonstrators protected, unless cancellation benefits demonstrators #LangataPrimary
4. Police also deserve our respect,seen photos of injured&bleeding policemen, nothing justifies injuring a Policeman #LangataPrimary
5. I pray for every injured child, may you be healed #LangataPrimary
6. Was the Land in question grabbed/not? That is an answer am sure we will get as promised,Let facts come before I comment #LangataPrimary
7. I ask did the activists bring their kids to the demo?Actions by Police were wrong, so was allowing kids to join activists #LangataPrimary
8. Finally, let me insist it was wrong to teargas children&wrong to break up the demo. It was also wrong to use kids in demo #LangataPrimary
9. If you truly stand for freedom of expression, you should talk and hold an opinion and also allow other to talk and hold one too #LangataPrimary
Caroline Mutoko also posted saying:
Spare me the feeble attempt to defend the indefensible.
Over the years and throughout the history of this great nation, students, teachers and parents have had demonstrations in school.
There have been demonstrations about school principals, bad teachers, poor grades, ghosts in dormitories (nkt), poor food and even land grabbing… just like the case in Langata
Only today and in this instance have CHILDREN been tear-gased.
So spare me the B.S. This nation has a rich history of school demonstrations complete with screaming students.
“What were the kids doing there?”
It is THEIR school and that is THEIR playground.
WE DO NOT TEAR-GAS CHILDREN! PERIOD!
Ciku Muiruri also said:
As a parent, I’m horrified by these pictures that I’m seeing. And I’m afraid that there is plenty of blame to pass around. Let me start with the biggest culprits – The police: Shame on you! What demons have possessed you? Even if you were given an order to use tear gas and you saw children in the crowd, are you robots who cannot think for yourselves? Heads must surely roll! Secondly, Langata Road Primary school – I’m sorry but what were you thinking??? Yes, #OccupyPlayGround activists can happily use kids to grab headlines but surely, as a school, you cannot knowingly put children in harms way. I have to sign a consent form for everything under the sun when it comes to my child and school activities. Tell me, did all the parents of these children agree to this demonstration? Because I tell you, if they did not sign a consent form, you will be slapped with so many lawsuits, your heads will spin. Oh, the poor babies…
