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WATCH: KCPE candidates choke, faint from teargas in Kawangware chaos

By NAIRA HABIB October 31st, 2017 1 min read

A video has surfaced on social media capturing a heart wrenching moment when schoolchildren were caught in the middle of running battles between police and protestors in Kawangware on Monday.

The students, candidates for this year’s KCPE examination, had just finished rehearsals at Gatina Primary School in Kawangware 56 and were heading home.

Chaos erupted at the school after rowdy youths pelted stones at Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i convoy that included several  senior ministry officials, smashing windows  of several vehicles.

The youths launched their rocks at the school in frustration at what they said was a government  that had refused to listed to them.

A police officer escorts a Standard Eight candidate in Kawangware, Nairobi, after they used tear gas to disperse opposition protesters. The girl was on her way home from school. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL
A police officer escorts a Standard Eight candidate in Kawangware, Nairobi, after they used tear gas to disperse opposition protesters. The girl was on her way home from school. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

FULL-BLOWN BATTLE

Police arrived minutes later to find a full-blown battle and used teargas to disperse the youths who retaliated with more rocks.

Pupils who attempted to leave the school’s premises got caught up in clashes, some being rendered  unconscious while others gasped for air.

Footage of the shocking event was aired by American television station ABC News.

It shows foreign journalists helping the pupils by leading them away from the area. In one instance, a police officer is seen carrying an overwhelmed pupil on his back.