High Court Issues Fresh Orders to IG Kanja in Gatoto School Dispute

Jukwaa

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Justice Gregory Mutai ordered Kanja and Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to personally guarantee adequate security during the transfer and maintain peace after the exercise.

“I issue the following directions. Firstly, that the ownership and management of Gatoto Community-Based Primary School be restored to the petitioners on the 13th of August, 2026. Secondly, that the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat do personally ensure that the petitioners are adequately protected during the handover exercise and that there is adequate security thereafter,” the judge stated.

Kanja appeared before the court on Friday, July 24, after being summoned alongside Lagat and Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok to explain the failure to comply with earlier court orders on the school’s registration and management.

📌 What You Need to Know

The petitioners’ representation included Senior Counsel Martha Karua, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama and lawyer Danstan Omari.

The court scheduled the matter for mention on August 18 to confirm compliance and ordered Lagat to personally appear before the judge.

Justice Mutai said the timeline took into account the imminent closure of schools following the end of the academic term to avoid disrupting learners.

The judge rejected the Inspector General’s request for a month to assess the security situation before implementing the orders.

During the proceedings, Kanja told the court he only became aware of the dispute after being summoned on July 23 and maintained that the matter fell under the responsibility of the sub-county police commander.

He also told the court that while he exercises overall command of the National Police Service (NPS), the institution operates through an established chain of command.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke

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