Five pupils injured after police lob teargas into school during demonstrations against Mwangaza
Five pupils at Meru Primary School fainted on
Friday morning after police officers lobbed teargas canisters into the school
compound, which is adjacent to Governor Mwangaza’s office, where protesters
staged demonstrations.
Protesters in the neighbouring Maua town
burnt the Meru County revenue roadblocks, while others took off with water
tanks that were reportedly distributed by Governor Mwangaza.
It was a race against time for the pupils at
Meru Primary School to conduct first aid and save the lives of five of their
fellow learners who fainted after they were teargassed in school.
Supporters of Mwangaza and those against her
clashed outside the Meru Governor’s office. Police had to use teargas canisters
to disperse them, and the pupils were caught up in the crossfire.
The affected pupils were all taken to an open
area within the school premises as the teachers figured out the next move.
Officials from the Kenya Red Cross later came
to their rescue.
“There were about four canisters. One landed
in a class while the children were there, and another came in at the back and
front, but it was accidental,” said the school head teacher Eva Gichuru.
The school management condemned the
protesters for storming the school and disrupting learning.
“When they were being teargassed, some jumped
into the school, which is bad, so I told the watchman to open the gate so they
could leave,” she added.
In Meru town, running battles were witnessed
for the better part of the day as supporters from Mwangaza’s faction and those
opposed to her clashed in public. Police then fired teargas canisters to
disperse them.
“If she does not step down now, she will be
forced to. We have given her two years and she has done nothing. She was saved
the first time, then cried; we don’t want her,” said a resident, Florence
Karambu.
Another resident, George Murimi, added:
“There is no development here in Meru. We have seen her distributing cattle and
gumboots, which are not helpful.”
Protests also turned chaotic in the
neighbouring Maua town, Igembe. The demonstrators burnt the county revenue
collection roadblocks before another group descended on the sub-county
administrator’s office and made away with water tanks that were reportedly
distributed by Governor Mwangaza.
At the same time, Mwangaza’s supporters had
divergent views on the current stalemate.
“We respect our courts and the honour they
have given us in Meru,” said Meru Chairperson for Persons Living with Disability,
Mike Makarina.
Mbeu Ward MCA Muguna Origino added, “A court
order has been issued. You can challenge it in court; that office needs
respect.”
The High Court halted the impeachment of
Governor Mwangaza until the case filed is heard and determined.
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