A Nairobi court has summoned Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DIG Eliud Lagat and Basic Education PS John Ololtuaa to personally appear before the court over the delayed implementation of orders relating to the management of Gatoto Comprehensive School in Mukuru kwa Njenga.

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Justice Gregory Mutai also directed the Nairobi Director of Education and Senior Deputy County Education Officer Erick Mulevu to appear before the court after concerns were raised that previous directives issued in the matter had not been complied with.

The orders issued on Monday, July 20, followed complaints by the petitioners, represented by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama and Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who alleged that state agencies had failed to enforce the court's earlier directives.

Kanjama told the court that attempts to serve the orders were met with hostility, claiming that a vehicle belonging to Karua was stoned by suspected goons during last week's exercise.

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He also accused the area police of failing to provide adequate security, alleging that several vehicles belonging to the petitioners and their legal team were vandalised.

However, State Counsel Jacline Kiramana for the Attorney General opposed the implementation of the orders , arguing that Gatoto Comprehensive School has operated as a public institution since it was established in the 1990s.

Outside the courtroom, residents and school officials maintained that the institution should remain under the Ministry of Education, warning that transferring its management would affect thousands of learners from the informal settlement.

Through lawyers Danstan Omari and Martina Swiga, the residents argued that the dispute extends beyond ownership and directly concerns the right to education for children living in Mukuru kwa Njenga.

The dispute stems from a petition filed by the Board of Directors of Gatoto Primary School and the Board of Management of Gatoto Community Primary School, who successfully obtained orders directing the government to register the institution as a private non-profit Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) school.

In the June 25 ruling, Justice Mutai ordered the Principal Secretary for Basic Education and the County Education Board to register the school under the petitioners' ownership and management within four working days before handing over its administration.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke