Christian school for children near Nairobi dumpsite forced to close

The Prince of Peace school in Nairobi’s Dandora district, which served hundreds of impoverished and orphaned children, has been forced to vacate its premises by local authorities. Director Jane Mihango reported that police arrived to shut down the facility, instructing the students to enroll in government-run schools instead. The school, which operated out of wooden structures near Kenya’s largest garbage dump, previously provided education and support to 730 children aged 2 to 17.

Following the intervention, Mihango stated that only 343 students have returned, leaving 387 children unaccounted for, with many reportedly retreating to the dumpsite. Authorities justified the closure by citing concerns over the school's limited food supplies and inadequate sanitation facilities. However, some observers suggest the move may have been influenced by tensions with nearby private schools or potential corruption, though these claims remain unverified. The incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing national concerns regarding public-sector corruption in Kenya.