January 19, 2015 2:01 PM EST
S tudents and teachers returned to a Nairobi-area school from a break to find that a barrier had been erected around their play area by a private developer in an apparent sale of the land.
The Nairobi city council has not commented on the legality of the sale of the land it says is public, the BBC reports , though some protesters allege it was an unlawful land grab. Around 100 students, mostly between the ages of 8-13, along with teachers and activists, knocked over the wall and were met by about 40 armed police officers, some of whom fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, the Telegraph reports . At least five children received medical attention.
Students from Langata Primary School hold placards as they protest against a perimeter wall illegally erected by a private developer around their school playground in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Thomas Mukoya—Reuters Kenyan school pupils and activists challenge riot police during a protest against the removal of their school's playground, at the Langata Road Primary School, in Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Brian Inganga—AP A protester clashes with a police officer during a protest against alleged land grabbing at Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Dai Kurokawa—EPA A police officer reacts as his colleague tries to calm him down after he was hit by a rock thrown by a protester during a protest against alleged land grabbing at Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Dai Kurokawa—EPA School children push the fence to enter the school playground during a protest against alleged land grabbing at Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Dai Kurokawa—EPA Students from Langata Primary School run past riot police as they protest against a perimeter wall illegally erected by a private developer around their school playground in Nairobi, Jan. 19, 2015. Thomas Mukoya—Reuters School children from the Langata Road Primary School scramble up a bridge on Jan. 19, 2015 in Nairobi to escape tear gas. Tony Karumba—AFP/Getty Images School children face off against a police dog handler during a protest against alleged land grabbing at Langata Road Primary School in Nairobi, Jan. 19 2015. Dai Kurokawa—EPA More Must-Reads From TIME The 100 Most Influential People of 2024 The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya 6 Compliments That Land Every Time What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving? If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time