Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has raised alarm over the detention of minors in remand.
In a statement on Monday, July 21, Njeri revealed that approximately 10 minors aged 17 and below have been held in detention for more than 10 days.
“We have mapped around 10 minors, 17 and below, who have been detained in remand for over 10 days,” she revealed.
The UDA lawmaker also alleged that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) sanctioned charges against minors despite being aware of the legal procedures designed to protect children.
“Despite the DPP being well aware of the procedure of processing minors, they approve charges against them nevertheless, because what better does the government have to do than terrorize minors? I mean, on that, they deliver beyond expectations, and they’ve got to show that they can deliver something,” Njeri added.
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This comes days after the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) raised concerns about reports of minors being arrested during the widespread Saba Saba protests.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 9, UNICEF urged the Kenyan authorities to prioritize the protection of children during public protests and to uphold their responsibilities under both national and international child protection laws.
“UNICEF is also deeply concerned by reports of children being arrested during the protests. Detention should be the last resort, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
"Minors who have been detained must have immediate access to appropriate legal assistance, family contact, and should be separated from adults while in custody for the shortest time possible," UNICEF stated.
