Lang’ata tear gas teacher defended
Lang’ata Road Primary School headteacher Peter Mugo. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- Lobby groups take issue with Ombudsman's recommendation.
- A report by the Commission on Administrative Justice said the head teacher did not take measures to protect the children.
Lobby groups have criticised the Ombudsman for recommending that the headteacher of Lang’ata Road Primary School be disciplined over the teargasing of pupils by police in January.
The pupils were protesting against the grabbing of their playground by a private developer on January 19.
A report by the Commission on Administrative Justice said the head teacher did not take measures to protect the children when police lobbed tear gas canisters in a confrontation with protesters.
But on Wednesday, seven education and children rights groups disagreed with the Ombudsman saying the headteacher, Mr Peter Mugo, was not at fault.
“The organisations take exception to a recommendation that the Teachers Service Commission issue a warning letter to Mr Peter Mugo for professional misconduct,” they said in a joint statement.
The organisations, which include Elimu Yetu Coalition, Girl Child Network, Society for International Development and Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children, backed the proposal that police involved in the incident be punished.
ON THE SPOT
“The headteacher did not force the children to demonstrate, neither did he stop them from sheltering in classrooms after the police attacked them with teargas,” the joint statement added in support of the headteacher.
The lobbies said disciplinary action should be taken against the Nairobi police commander Benson Kibui and his officers.
The report also named Kajiado North AP boss Inspector Leonard Chea Mayaya and recommended that he be reprimanded for dereliction in the performance of duty.
