Parents in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, have protested the construction of a police post and chief’s camp within the compound of Upper Sagana Primary School.
The angry residents stormed the school and forced construction workers to leave, demanding transparency from local authorities before the project continues.
The protestors said they were misled about the nature of the project.
According to a school board member, the county government had initially stated that the construction was for an ICT hub something they believed would benefit students.
“We supported the project because we were told it was an ICT centre. Now we’re hearing it’s actually a police post and chief’s office. We can’t allow that. It’s not good for the children,” said the board member.
Parents expressed concerns about the psychological impact of having a police station on school grounds.
They argued that the presence of law enforcement operations could expose students to inappropriate or traumatic situations.
“They should be building more classrooms and fixing leaking roofs, not police stations,” said one parent. “Our children will see things they shouldn’t. It’s a distraction from their education.”
In response, area MP George Kariuki stated that the police post was intended to protect the ICT centre, which has reportedly been targeted by vandals in the past.
This incident echoes a similar protest in January at Gatoto Primary School in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Reuben area, where parents opposed what they alleged was a land grab by local leaders.
During that protest, learning was disrupted and police had to intervene after tensions escalated.
“We’re not interested in politics. We just want our children to learn. The school belongs to the government,” one Nairobi parent said during the earlier protest.
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