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IPOA cautions police officers against manhandling minors

Sunday, July 18th, 2021 12:07 | By
Police officers.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has asked police officers in the country to exercise sobriety when dealing with minors.

Citing two cases where officers manhandled students of Ntuene Primary School in Meru County and St. Peters High School in Mumias, IPOA through its chair Anne Makori said it has commenced a probe into the two incidents in line with one of its functions.

"In this light, the Authority reminds all police officers that before taking any action, special consideration must be given in circumstances where citizens below the age of 18 years fall in conflict with lawful prescriptions of the Kenyan Penal Code and in the spirit of Article 53 of the Constitution of Kenya," Makori said.

She added: "Beyond the Kenyan legislative laws, international statues recognise efforts that promote privileges that minors must enjoy as vulnerable group members."

In the Meru incident early this month, police officers allegedly discharged ammunition at the school where they had moved to arrest a teacher and in the process, several minors sustained injuries.

On July 14 in Mumias, police arrested several students allegedly on the instruction of the school administration.

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