The past few days on the Kenyan Internet space has been a rollercoaster in regards to minors and parenting. This is after a couple of teenagers reported missing by their guardians turned up after a few days from what the kids termed as an ‘escape to blow off steam”
Bewildered Kenyans on social media went on a blaming game spree, some entirely blamed the parents for being negligent while some blamed the system and others just blatantly said the kids were rebellious and needed discipline.
A few days later, police officers arrested 44 school-going children alongside their host in Nairobi’s Mountain View Estate where various brands of alcohol and bhang were seized in the raid.
A few hours later, it emerged that the kids were engaging in sexual activities, shooting videos of the same which some said could be found on lewd Telegram Channels.
Now, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a stern warning to individuals who are sharing and posting these indecent pictures of minors on online platforms of dire consequences.
While uploading the videos captioning them to show disgust, the DCI says that legal action will be taken against anyone sharing these inappropriate pictures of underage children.
“It is unfortunate that such individuals are doing so not only in contravention of the law, but also ignoring the negative impact of their actions on the lives of the said minors. We wish to remind those circulating such photos and/or videos that such acts are punishable by law,” read a statement from the DCI.
“The attention of the DCI has been drawn to inappropriate photos and videos of minors being circulated on social media alleged to have been shot by a group of minors who had attended a house party,” said the DCI on its Twitter page.
Anyone found guilty of an offense of child pornography and upon conviction will be liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than six years or to a fine of not less than five hundred thousand shillings or both.
A subsequent conviction will attract imprisonment to a term of not less than seven years without the option of a fine.
The DCI has requested parents to take a keen interest in their children’s activities at home and monitor their use of social media networks now that they are at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
