Francis Mwangi, a former teacher in Naka Primary School, continues to face charges of damage to property alongside activist Boniface Mwangi and three others. The co-accused appeared in a Nakuru court on Monday February 28, 2022 for hearing on the case.
In 2016, The Standard covered a story in which they claim that pupils and parents “recaptured” a grabbed land belonging to Naka Primary School.
However, the faces behind this success are still unnoticed. But today we salute Francis Mwangi, who was then a teacher in the school. He not only spoke vehemently against the aggressive act of wealthy individuals who wanted to seize some part of the school’s land, but also led a group of parents and students to protest against the illegal land grabbing.
Angry pupils were seen carrying placards and twigs around illegal structures constructed next to their classrooms. Some parents and teachers cheered them. The school chairman commented on that day that “those behind it are well known and well-connected individuals in the society, but as parents it will not be business as usual.”
During the protest, some unknown individuals arrived at the site and took images of those who were leading the protest. Activist Boniface Mwangi’s Facebook post on Monday reveals the effect of the photos taken on that fateful day.
The famous activist wrote, “Mr. Francis Mwangi is a hero. Served as a teacher for 35 years and on his last posting at Naka Primary School he helped protect the school land from land grabbers in 2016. The grabbers got him charged with “malicious damage” alongside me and three others. He retired in 2018 but we are still in court on framed charges. Today, we were in Nakuru for the mention of that case.”
Naka Primary School’s vast land is bordered by Lake Nakuru and a cosy estate, making it attractive to greedy developers.
The land has since been rightfully given back to Naka Primary School, but the ghosts of past events continue to haunt those who helped reclaim the land from land grabbers.
Francis Mwangi, the little known teacher from Naka is battling the court case with his co-accused, but they are never alone. The pupils, parents, and members of the Naka community are standing behind them in show of appreciation for their efforts.
