Covid-19: Police arrest 50 partying teens in Embu for flouting rules

Handcuffs

What you need to know:

  • The merrymakers aged between 15 and 17 years were found in a bush near Masinga dam, a gathering at which none of the guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19 were being implemented.
  • The chief said the boys and girls were from three counties - Embu, Kitui and Machakos counties.

Police stormed a village party at Makima in Embu County on Sunday evening and arrested 50 teenagers.

The merrymakers aged between 15 and 17 years were found in a bush near Masinga dam, a gathering at which none of the guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19 were being implemented.

Chief Charles Ngarti said the officers, who were tipped off, found the group drinking beer and declared the party illegal.

They took the teenagers, most of them students, to the local police station for questioning and later released them without preferring any charges.

WARNING

They were warned against repeating the offence as this would result in prosecution.

"After we questioned the children, we set them free.They had contributed money and bought alcoholic drinks and other edibles, which they were enjoying when we got wind of what was happening and took them by surprise," Mr Ngari said.

"We suspect the teenagers engaged in immoral activities.”

The chief said the boys and girls were from three counties - Embu, Kitui and Machakos counties.

"The parents may be pursued and be charged with child negligence," he said, noting that such parties contribute to teenage pregnancies and cases of dropping out of school so they should be discouraged.

"We shall not spare anyone found responsible for a teenage pregnancy," he said.