On Tuesday, UNICEF issued a statement in response to reports of teargassing involving young children during nationwide protests against the government.
The UN’s representative in Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer, denounced the conduct of the Kenyan police as unacceptable. She stressed that safeguarding children’s safety should always be a top priority for law enforcement.
“I am deeply troubled by reports of tear gas entering the grounds of Mwiyala Primary School and affecting students during today’s protests,” her statement read. “Children and schools must never become targets of violence.”
UNICEF joined other leaders in condemning the police’s actions after tear gas was used inside the school located in Kakamega County.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo urged for accountability from those responsible, stressing that children must never be subjected to such attacks.
“We demand answers,” she emphasized regarding the incident in Kakamega.
This incident is not an isolated case, as another school in Nairobi also faced tear gas from police during protests.
Furthermore, police officers were accused of deploying tear gas inside a hospital and church in Nairobi.
In Nakuru, tensions escalated as CCTV footage showed police officers entering a church to search for protesters seeking refuge during anti-government demonstrations.
The United Nations has urged police officers to uphold human rights while managing protests, particularly those led by Gen Z activists.
