Karua Flees as Protesters Stop School Takeover

(NAIROBI, KENYA) – A court ordered handover of Gatoto Community Primary School in Mukuru kwa Reuben to its private owners failed on Thursday after an angry crowd forced officials and lawyers overseeing the exercise to flee.

Among those forced to escape in their vehicles were People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama.

Ms Karua was at the scene for about two minutes only before the crowd began advancing towards her. Police officers guarding the exercise intervened and enabled her to leave safely.

Protesters locked the school gate, chanting: “This school is public and we have the title deed.”

Former school management board chairperson Felix Mwangangi said they arrived early in the morning aiming to complete the exercise as directed by the court, but the environment turned hostile.

“Some of the people present were not parents. They said they had been paid to ensure the exercise failed,” he said.

The school owners blamed police for failing to act against those who blocked the execution of the High Court order.

They insisted they would continue fighting to regain control of the school, saying that turning it into a public institution would harm the education of many children from informal settlements.

However, Makadara Police Commander (OCPD) Judy Nyongesa denied the claims. She said police implemented the court orders while avoiding disruption before students who were at the school.

She said the school was launched by President William Ruto as a public school under the Ministry of Education and many residents want it to remain public.

On 25 June, the High Court ordered the school to be re-registered as a private non profit institution under the Basic Education Act and returned to the applicants by 2 July.

Justice Gregory Mutai also ordered the Makadara OCPD to ensure at least three police officers were present during the exercise, with the cost of security met by the petitioners.

Meanwhile, some parents have filed a notice of appeal. They say many families in Mukuru kwa Reuben cannot afford fees charged by private schools and the institution should remain public.