Kenya police tear-gas school children at playground protest

Around 100 primary school children have been sprayed with tear gas by police at the scene of a playground protest in Kenya.

School children flee as a teargas canister is fired by police in front of the school playground during a protest (EPA/DAI KUROKAWA)

School children flee as a teargas canister is fired by police in front of the school playground during a protest against alleged land grabbing at Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, (EPA/DAI KUROKAWA)

Kenyan police have fired tear gas at children protesting the seizure of their school playground by a property developer.

Around 100 primary school children and a small group of activists pushed over a newly built wall that separated the playing fields and school buildings, close to the capital Nairobi's main domestic airport.

Around 40 armed police accompanied by dogs dispersed them by firing tear gas canisters, according to a witness at the scene on Monday.

Dozens of children were caught in choking clouds of the chemical agent before being forced to shelter on a pedestrian bridge over the main road to escape the fumes.

Macharia Njeru, chairman of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, said the incident would be investigated.

"Teargassing children is inexcusable," he said.

Renowned activist Boniface Mwangi said a "school playground is a necessity, not a privilege".

Monday was the first school day since the wall was built during the holidays.

Nairobi, a city of more than three million people, is rapidly growing and land prices are rising at some of the fastest rates anywhere on the continent.


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Source: AAP

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Kenya police tear-gas school children at playground protest | SBS News