Somali teens deny charges of disrespecting Kenyan flag, illegal entry into country

Two Somali teens on Wednesday appeared in a Nairobi court and denied allegations that they disrespected the Kenyan flag and entered the country unlawfully.

The minors are accused of stepping on the national flag at Nyayo Stadium on September 20, 2025, an act prosecutors say was meant to incite anger among Kenyan citizens.

They also face charges of being in Kenya without proper legal documentation after being arrested in Eastleigh estate on September 25.

According to probation reports, the two teens were carrying false documents and admitted to authorities that they did not have valid papers.

They informed the court that they were in the process of obtaining legal status when the flag incident happened.

The minors’ parents had expressed support for a diversion programme aimed at rehabilitation, but the magistrate said the case could not qualify due to the inability to verify their prior records in Somalia.

Defence lawyer Ishmael Nyaribo praised the court for the way the teens have been treated while in remand.

“We appreciate how the children have been handled, even in remand. They have been treated in a manner they deserved,” Nyaribo said.

He urged the court to focus on reintegration instead of punishment. “The writers of the Constitution intended that children be protected. We ask the court to find the best method to integrate them back into society,” he added.

Magistrate Rose Gitau declined the defence’s request for the minors to skip plea-taking and instructed the prosecution to provide all evidence it intends to use in the trial.

The case will be mentioned again on October 27, 2025, with a full hearing scheduled for November 17.

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