Police in Athi River are holding a 40-year-old father who was found driving with his nine-year-old son on Mombasa Road in Machakos County.
In an incident that happened on Wednesday, August 24, the minor was said to be driving his father’s saloon car while heading to school.
As the front door window was open, the law enforcement officers controlling traffic on Mombasa Road noticed him driving while wearing a full school uniform.
His father sat in the front passenger seat and a seven-year-old girl, thought to be his sister, was in the back seat.
They immediately flagged the minor, but he refused to comply, instead speeding towards Athi River Township.
According to Athi River Base Commander Agnes Makau, the officers pursued the vehicle and stopped it before it entered the two children’s private school in Athi River.
“Our officers managed to corner the boy, who was driving at high speed, before he went past the school gate. He was driving dangerously and he had not fastened the safety belt,” Ms Makau said.
Following the ordeal, the children’s father stated that his son was a skilled driver with two years of experience. He denied that the minor endangered the lives of other drivers.
The man, a local contractor, was arrested and taken to the Athi River Police Station with his children. The children were later taken to school by officers in a police vehicle.
Mary Njoki, the police boss in Athi River, has warned parents against allowing their underage children to drive, claiming that it endangers other motorists and violates traffic laws.
“We will not tolerate parents acting in utter disregard of the law. The incident was barbaric and dangerous to other road users. Let parents know they will be held responsible in case their [underage] children are caught driving,” she said.
According to police, the father will be arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos county to answer traffic police officers’ charges.
His license could be revoked as well.
