Two Somali minors captured stepping on the Kenyan flag during a match at Nyayo Stadium have been arraigned in court, drawing public attention to the sensitive matter of respect for national symbols.
The children face charges of being in the country illegally, damaging a national symbol of unity the Kenyan flag and causing disturbance during the sporting event.
When they appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Rose Gitau, the minors did not take a plea. The magistrate ordered that they be taken to the Gigiri Children’s Protection Unit and directed that a social inquiry report be filed before the charges can be formally put to them.
Relatives who sought their release into their custody were turned down by the court, with the magistrate ruling that only biological parents could take responsibility for the minors at this stage.
The case will be mentioned again next Wednesday, when the court is expected to receive the social inquiry report and determine the way forward.
