A group of children protesting against the closure of their school playground have been tear gassed by police – in an act described as “brutality beyond words”.

Television footage showed the primary school pupils - some as young as six years old - writhing in pain as they were carried away from the scene.

Others were seen screaming and choking because of the tear gas.

At least eight young people were hospitalised after three canisters of tear gas were fired into the crowd in Kenya, and the officers involved are facing disciplinary action.

The students were demonstrating against a politician who had seized the land so he could build a car park for his nearby hotel.

During their protest, the pupils dismantled a wall built around the playground, after which they were seen dancing and enjoying a spontaneous football match.

"This is brutality beyond words and greed beyond description," said opposition leader Eliud Owalo.

"It is difficult to believe that police can actually deploy against primary school children and lob tear gas at them to defend a land-grabber.

"This image of a nation determined to steal forcefully from its own children cannot be what we aspire to. It cannot be the legacy we want to bequeath to the children."

A police spokesman has conceded the "level of force used was not commensurate to the persons involved".

Video: Kenya Citizen TV