NAIROBI, Kenya — People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader and presidential aspirant Martha Karua has alleged that she was attacked while accompanying officials of Gatoto Primary School to oversee the implementation of a High Court judgment restoring the institution’s management to its Board of Directors.
In a statement issued on Friday, Karua condemned what she described as the violent obstruction of the court-ordered process, accusing police of failing to comply with judicial directives to provide security during the exercise.
The incident occurred at Gatoto Primary School in Mukuru kwa Reuben, Nairobi.
Court Had Ordered Police to Provide Security
According to Karua, she had accompanied members of the school’s Board of Directors to witness the implementation of a judgment delivered in HCCHRPET No. E686 of 2024, which restored the management of the school to its lawful board.
She said the High Court had specifically directed the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Mukuru kwa Reuben Police Station to provide security during the enforcement of the orders.
However, Karua claimed that when they reported to the police station, the OCS was unavailable, while the deputy OCS declined to authorise the deployment of officers, stating that only the station commander could approve the request.
Vehicle Damaged During Incident
Karua said that after proceeding to the school, they found the gates locked despite the existing court orders.
She alleged that shortly after members of the media arrived, a group of individuals became violent and began pelting stones at the board members’ vehicle, forcing them to leave the scene.
According to the PLP leader, her vehicle sustained damage as it departed.
She claimed that one individual armed with a club smashed the rear windscreen while additional stones struck the vehicle.
No injuries were reported in the statement.
Karua Raises Concerns Over Rule of Law
Karua said the incident raises broader concerns about the enforcement of court decisions and the role of public institutions in protecting citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
She argued that the events reflected what she described as an increasing pattern in which violence and intimidation are used to frustrate lawful judicial processes.
According to Karua, the incident extends beyond the dispute over Gatoto Primary School and touches on public confidence in the Judiciary and the enforcement of court orders.
Calls for Investigations
The PLP leader called for investigations into both the alleged attack and the reported failure by police to implement the High Court’s directive.
She urged authorities to establish responsibility for the violence and determine whether there was any negligence or failure by public officials to execute the court’s orders.
Karua maintained that those found culpable, whether through direct involvement or failure to discharge their official duties, should be held accountable.
Reaffirms Commitment to Judicial Independence
Karua reiterated her commitment to defending judicial independence and constitutional governance, arguing that democratic institutions cannot function effectively if court orders are selectively enforced.
She said Kenya’s constitutional order depends on public institutions carrying out their legal responsibilities impartially and without political influence.