Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has told the High Court that the National Police Service will comply with court orders directing the restoration of Gatoto Community Primary School in Mukuru Kwa Reuben to its lawful management, saying he only became aware of the orders on Thursday.
Kanja made the remarks while appearing before Justice Gregory Mutai on Friday after being summoned to explain the National Police Service’s alleged failure to enforce a series of court orders requiring police to facilitate the restoration of the school to its rightful management.
The Inspector General told the court that upon becoming aware of the orders, he immediately initiated measures to ensure compliance and assured the judge that the National Police Service would execute the court’s directives.
The matter stems from a long-running dispute over the management of Gatoto Community Primary School, with the High Court having previously issued orders directing that the institution be handed back to its lawful management. The petitioners, however, complained that despite those orders, the police had failed to provide security and facilitate their implementation, prompting the court to summon senior government officials to personally account for the delay.
During earlier proceedings, lawyers representing the petitioners, led by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama and senior counsel Martha Karua, accused state agencies of frustrating the implementation of the court’s orders. They told the court that attempts to enforce the judgment had been met with hostility, alleging that Karua’s vehicle was stoned while serving court documents and faulting local police for failing to provide adequate security.
On the other hand, lawyers representing the Attorney General and other state agencies argued that the school has operated as a public institution for decades and warned that an immediate transfer of management could disrupt learning and affect candidates preparing for national examinations.
The court had summoned Inspector General Kanja, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and officials from the Ministry of Education to explain the continued non-compliance with its orders.
