Activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi has organised a reunion with former pupils of Lang’ata Road Primary School, marking 11 years since the now-iconic playground protest that saw schoolchildren tear-gassed while defending their school land.
In a social media post announcing the gathering, Mwangi reflected on the events of January 19, 2015, when pupils confronted what he described as a powerful land grabber.
“Eleven years ago, schoolchildren as young as six years old confronted a powerful landgrabber and won. To celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Occupy Langata Road Primary School protest, we are meeting with those Gen Zs tomorrow for a hangout,” he wrote.
The reunion, described as a ‘hangout,’ brings together the former pupils, many of whom are now teenagers or young adults, to commemorate their role in defending their playground in what became one of Kenya’s most widely shared civic protests.
The protest, popularly known as Occupy Lang’ata, erupted after a wall was erected around the school’s playground during the December holidays. When learners returned for the new term, they found their play space fenced off.
On January 19, 2015, pupils, parents, teachers, and activists gathered at the school grounds to demand the return of the playground.
Images of uniformed children running from clouds of tear gas drew national and international attention.
Mwangi was among the activists present at the time and helped document and amplify the protest. Eleven years later, he is reconnecting with the same pupils who were at the centre of that historic moment.
In his post, Mwangi recalled the children’s courage and the events of that day, stating:
“On Monday, January 19, 2015, the apparent stupidity of the Kenyan police was laid bare for the world to see when they tear-gassed schoolchildren in the name of ‘following orders,” he said.
He added that the children initially believed officers were there to protect them.
“The children had assumed the police with their dogs were present to protect them as they reclaimed their grabbed school playground. Nothing could have been further from the truth.”
Mwangi’s reunion highlights the passage of time — the once-young pupils are now part of Generation Z.
His post emphasises that the meeting is both a celebration and a moment of reflection.
The activist described how, despite being forced back to class, the pupils refused to stay silent.
“Apart from the tear gas, the children were chased back to class but refused to stay there. Instead, they came out again, supported by their parents, teachers, and the community, and demolished the illegal wall on their school land,” the activist said.
The Lang’ata Road Primary School protest remains one of Kenya’s most vivid examples of community resistance involving children.
The January 2015 incident drew widespread attention after images of schoolchildren fleeing tear gas circulated online.
The protest sparked debate about land rights, police conduct, and protection of public school property.
