Outrage as Mombasa MPs Condemn Tear Gas Attack at Coast Girls School
“Immediate investigation and accountability demanded from law enforcement”
Key Points:
- MPs call for disciplinary measures against officers involved.
- Incident occurred during anti-Finance Bill protests in Mombasa.
- Emphasis on protecting educational institutions from political unrest.
Mombasa County Members of Parliament have strongly condemned the teargassing incident at Coast Girls School on Wednesday. Led by Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Woman Representative Zamzam Chimba, the MPs labeled the act as ‘cowardice’ by law enforcement officers and called for immediate investigations and disciplinary action against those responsible.
“We demand an investigation of the police officers involved in the lobbing of tear gas into the school. Demonstrations and picketing are constitutional rights, and the government should always listen to the voice of the people,” Mboko asserted.
She emphasized the need to protect educational spaces from political unrest. “Schools should be sanctuaries of learning, not battlegrounds for political agendas. The incident at Coast Girls School highlights the urgent need for reform in how security forces engage with civilians during protests.”
During the anti-Finance Bill protests in Mombasa on Wednesday, learning at Coast Girls High School was disrupted when a tear gas canister landed in the school compound. Police had used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protestors at Central Police Station within Mombasa’s CBD.
The Mombasa legislators condemned the incident, underscoring its unacceptable nature and the urgent need for accountability. They stressed that such actions compromise student safety and reflect a troubling disregard for human rights and the rule of law.
“The deployment of tear gas within an educational institution, where young girls were present, is a violation of their safety and dignity,” Chimba stated. She added that the incident not only damages the integrity of law enforcement but also raises serious concerns about their operational protocols during public demonstrations.
Other MPs addressing the media at parliament buildings included Mohamed Soud Machele (Mvita) and Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni).
Kenyans joined countrywide protests on Thursday to oppose the Finance Bill 2024, describing it as ‘punitive’. The protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday and spread to other regions, including Mombasa.
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