Detectives based in Kirinyaga are looking for 14 students who jumped out of a moving matatu to escape arrest after they were busted smoking bhang.
According to the DCI, the students from Fred's Grammar mixed secondary had boarded the Nairobi-bound matatu at the Karatina bus stage and were heading home for their midterm break.
“However on approaching Kibingoti along the Nyeri-Nairobi highway the driver, John Maina, sensed a strong aroma of cannabis sativa coming from the back of the matatu,” DCI George Kinoti said in a tweet.
“Upon checking the rear view mirror, he was shocked to see billowing smoke as the seemingly excited teenagers passed a joint amongst themselves, while others imbibed alcoholic drinks,” he added.
Kinoti said the driver of the matatu belonging to 2NK Sacco got concerned and urged the intoxicated students to stop but they became unruly and threatened him with dire consequences.
He said the students warned the driver to mind his business and concentrate on driving them to Nairobi.
Incensed by the unbecoming conduct of the students, the driver decided to drive them to Sagana police station. It was at this point that the students noticed they were in trouble and resorted to the dangerous escape strategy.
“The students were quick to notice the sudden detour and hurriedly disembarked from the vehicle as it made its way to the station,” Kinoti said.
“They dangerously jumped from the windows of the matatu, leaving their half smoked joints, half-filled bottles with liquor and luggage in the vehicle.”
Kinoti said the principal of the school was summoned at the Sagana Police station to help identify the students through the personal effects they left behind in the vehicle.
Primary and secondary school students broke for their five-day midterm break on Friday, November 19 until November 23.
The ministry of Education issued a circular on November 4 granting the break after seeming bowing to pressure from growing unrest in schools.
According to a report by the Parliamentary committee on Education, there have been 126 arson cases in schools since January.
As a result, at least 302 students have so far been arrested in relation to the fires while 41 are facing charges.
The report says the government is considering reintroducing corporal punishment to curb the menace in schools.
Corporal punishment in Kenyan schools was banned in 2001. Some schools, however still practice it.
Teachers believe that corporal punishment is the most effective way of disciplining students.
Academicians opposed to the form of discipline however argue that instead of changing students’ behavior, corporal punishment creates resentment and damages students-teacher relationship.
