 |
| The building that houses the club in Nairobi where more than 200 children were arrested while on a drinking spree on Mashujaa Day, October 20, 2015. |
More than 200 children arrested while on a drinking spree on Mashujaa Day were on Wednesday charged in a children’s court in Nairobi.
The 230 children, among them 58 girls, were charged before Milimani Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi, who released them on a free bond of Sh150.
Their trial was conducted in an open space on the third floor of Milimani Law Courts.
The children were accused of drinking, dancing and smoking inside the Jerry City Hotel and Bar in Nairobi.
The magistrate directed them to report to a probation officer, who would file a report in court in two weeks.
The school-going children, aged between nine and 17, had spent the previous night at the Central Police Station. Police arrested the children at the club at around 3pm.
CLOSE DOWN BARS
The children said boys were being charged Sh100 to enter the dance hall while girls were allowed in free.
The children’s parents, who spoke to the Nation outside the court, urged the government to close down bars and prosecute club owners who violate children’s rights.
A parent who had spent the entire day in court said he was “annoyed at the love of money at the expense of the morals of the society”, as he was reunited with his son.
He added: “How can an adult person sell beer to a child. What is the purpose of the law? Let the club owner bear the brunt of the law.”
The owner of the bar has gone into hiding.
Ms Munyi admonished the children and allowed them a chance to correct their behaviour by directing their parents to accompany them to the respective administration chiefs, who would ensure probation officers interview the children and file a report.
The children are residents of Kangemi, Kawangware, Githurai, Dandora, Kariobangi, Outering, Shauri Moyo, Ziwani and Kahawa Sukari estates in Nairobi.
