Court declines to release Somali teens accused of desecrating Kenyan flag pending inquiry
The minors, who also face charges of being in Kenya illegally, damaging a national symbol, and causing disturbance, did not take a plea.
Two Somali minors accused of desecrating the Kenyan flag during a match at Nyayo Stadium will remain in protective custody after a Nairobi court declined to release them to relatives.
Senior Resident Magistrate Rose Gitau directed that the teenagers, aged 14 and 17, be placed at the Gigiri Children's Protection Unit pending further inquiry into their circumstances.
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The court rejected pleas from relatives to take custody, ruling that only biological parents could be considered for release at this stage.
The minors, who also face charges of being in Kenya illegally, damaging a national symbol, and causing disturbance, did not take a plea.
The magistrate ordered a social inquiry report to be filed before they return to court next Wednesday.
The two teenagers were captured on video desecrating the Kenyan flag after a football match at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium.
Following the arrests, netizens have engaged in debates about what Kenya's law says regarding the arrest and handling of minors.
The incident occurred on Saturday, September 20, during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League fixture between Somalia's Mogadishu FC and Kenya Police FC.
Footage showed the boys, who were later revealed to be 17 and 14 years old, violating a Kenyan flag by stepping on it and doing other indecent acts on it.
The clips, which went viral, sparked a massive uproar from Kenyans, with some demanding the arrest of the culprits.
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