Police arrest 24 drunk students in riverside party

Police have arrested 24 secondary and primary school students for allegedly engaging in immoral behaviour during a pre-Christmas party in Taita Taveta County.

The students aged between 13 and 23 were dressed improperly, police said.

They were allegedly drunk and disorderly during the riverbank party near Dembwa trading centre on Mwatate-Wundanyi Road.

Mwatate OCPD Monica Kimani said the boys and girls were from different schools. They were smoking bhang and cigarettes, chewing muguuka, drinking alcohol and engaging in immoral behaviour.

The police said officers were tipped by the public.

Briefing The Standard on the incident, Kimani said there were eight girls and 16 boys at the time of the arrest.

“We have remanded the students. Some of them come from well-off families,” she said.

“The girls were wearing provocative dresses. We found some of them in a compromised situation,” the officer said.

Kimani said the suspects will be charged in court once investigations are completed.

“We cannot allow such behaviour to continue. Parents should ensure they protect their children during school holidays."

The police officer said the students’ parents thronged the Mwatate Police Station to have their children released.

“We are taking the students to court and there will be no compromise."

The arrest comes barely after police rounded up and arrested scores of students who were drunk and disorderly in a bar in Taveta town this year.