Foreigners without valid identification wail in court

Nine people believed to be Ethiopians and Somalis stunned a Nairobi court recently when they refused to go back to the police station, saying they were too hungry to walk.

They burst into tears while leaning on one another. The incident happened minutes after the court adjourned following a successful application to have their passports verified by investigating officer Willy Ngunjiri.

Ngunjiri, who is based at Pangani police station, told the court that the suspects were arrested on May 15 in Eastleigh at around 3pm for not having valid identification documents.

“The respondents are of Ethiopian and Somali origin and could not satisfactorily explain their identities. They did not report to the immigration department at the border at the time of entry. I am making this application to detain the victims at the station to have their documents investigated since they have rubber stamps suspected to have been made in Kenya,” said Ngunjiri.

The suspects did not object to the application.

The court granted Ngunjiri five more days to carry out the investigations. However, when the court adjourned, the suspects remained seated and started to wail, saying they were hungry and frail since they had not eaten for a while.

Officers from Pangani Police Station helped them as they dragged their feet through the corridors of Makadara Law Courts.

The case will be mentioned on May 24.