In Summary
- The minors aged 5, 10 and 12 years were arrested for allegedly stealing marker pens, and playing items from school
- Nyambega says that the police officers first demanded that they pay Ksh. 10,000 before the children are released
Police officers from Muthaiga Police Station are on the spot for arresting and holding four minors at the police station.
The minors aged 5, 10, 10 and 12 years were arrested for allegedly stealing marker pens, and playing items from school.
Irene Nyambega from Mathare Social Justice says that the children were arrested on Tuesday and spent the night at the police station.
“These children are very young. They were arrested for allegedly stealing marker pens and playing items, an issue that would have been solved amicably by the parents and the teachers,” said Nyambega.
Nyambega says that the police officers first demanded that they pay Ksh. 10,000 before the children are released and also demanded that their parents produce their birth certificates.
Child released on medical grounds
According to Nyambega, attempts to have the minors released from police custody saw the police officers move the children to a children’s home called Mogra.
“They have denied the minors’ parents access to them. And when they heard that we were trying to have the children released, they quickly moved them to Mogra Children’s home.”
Only one child was released on medical grounds.
A visit at the police station by Ghetto Radio revealed that the children had indeed been arrested.
“Some officers have resorted to threatening us accusing us of mobilising women to protest against them,” said Nyambega.
