The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday warned that students caught in criminal activities including drunkenness, unpeaceable demos, arson, and drugs risked damaging their records for life.
In the wake of rising students unrest and strikes witnessed, the DCI indicated that reported crime of any kind will go to the DCI records and "automatically be reflected on the Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct) when such student will apply for one."
However, Kenyans found fault on the decision to carry on the juvenile offenses into the adult life of the minors.
[caption caption="Two dormitories that were burnt down at Chulaimbo Boys Secondary School, Kisumu"]
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In their arguement, netizens pointed out the fact that Kenya's juvenile justice system does not provide for punishment but rehabilitation of such children offenders.
The Kenyan law for instance prohibits the use of the terms "conviction" and "sentence" on cases of children and young persons since they cannot be convicted.
This is crap. Juvenile records are juvenile records. To be sealed and not affect a reformed juvenile in their adulthood. Start by profiling the people running our economy down.
— Samwoka (@binmutanda) July 8, 2018
You are stretching your arm too far leaving the real criminals partying with judges and mpigs with taxpayers money. Style up.
— Mwangi (@kev_wish) July 8, 2018
Are you doing the same to taxpayer stealing thieves who still find their way into public offices including yours? #CAUTION https://t.co/VkIvm5mZAF
— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) July 8, 2018
So you're now threatening students but you can't do anything about those criminals in suits who are destroying Kenya.
— Raymond Kyalo (@raymond_kyalo) July 8, 2018
And once they were videod beating the UON students and actually going into library and classrooms beating them. Peaceful students. Am not sure but nothing was ever done to them. It wasn't a good scene. They should focus more on fighting terror.
— The World President (@pauldaviddavies) July 8, 2018
In particular, tweeps shifted the blame of the rising moral decay to poor role-modeling in the society including by high-ranking leaders in the society.
our students learn from the best...our political leaders..start with them..stop targeting children..realize that the system is broken and develop a changed mindset!!
— Peter Mwang'ombe (@MwangP01) July 8, 2018
Start with thorough investigation of theft of public funds by state officials. The students get motivation to riot from such role models
— Odhek K'Odhek (@Odhek_Ogutu) July 7, 2018
Why students only & not all citizens? How does this even help? Some of the most corrupt people in this country have never touched alcohol nor engaged in any crimes prior to assuming offices
— JM (@DukeofAnfield) July 7, 2018
You are actually better off starting your pursuit of criminals from State House, Bunge and Counties... they are part of the reason why young people take part in protests. You also know very well that participating in a protest is not a crime
— Fred Ndaga (@fndaga) July 8, 2018
It would be a fair game if you would deal firmly with impunity first, this would be a better lesson to our kids than threatening them with criminal culpability. Plz deal with Arap Mashamba first and bar him from corrupting the minds of our young people. Set a good example first
— Peter Maina (@PeteroMaina) July 8, 2018
Pls also do the same to the people fleecing the govt through dubious land deals they are worse than these students wbo just trying to be heard #IFIKIEMASTUDE #IFIKIEDCI
— Robin Hood (@hoodprivateye) July 8, 2018
The government has not given us enough resources to give our students a proper education. Our children are simply need EDUCATION, not criminalization. Shame, shame, shame on you
— Dr Wandia (@wmnjoya) July 7, 2018
Don't tell me you're contemplating copy-pasting those oppressive and counter-productive - style criminal justice system of profiling, marginalising & disenfranchising a section of the society & ensuring that they're completely excluded from the mainstream society.
— Juma Elijah (@Tung_Jowi) July 8, 2018
What's the agenda? Lying to young people that it's a criminal offense to participate in a protest? And linking protests to the certificate of good conduct when we know that some people simply pay an amount slightly above the prescribed rates & promptly walk out with the document!
— Fred Ndaga (@fndaga) July 8, 2018
Another section of Kenyans, however, supported the move by the DCI terming it a timely intervention given that there have been cases of extreme violence including physical assault against teachers in the recent past.
In their view, students have been taking advantage of their status (as minors) to break the law and destroy property whever they go on rampage.
Moreover, this section opined that the move by the DCI will see parents and guardians guide their children to stay clear of negative peer influence that can result to such punitive legal measures.
Keep up the good job you are doing. Students are leaders of tomorrow and it's good that they are guided at this early age. I have a brother who torched his school 20 years ago. This is haunting him to date #IFIKIEMASTUDE
— Mohamed Roba(MRQ) (@Mrobkoto) July 8, 2018
Great. Make sure all the students are aware. It's also a good ground to recruit future spy masters.
— Peter k. Ikua (@ikua_peter) July 8, 2018
Thank you.. Even though long overdue
We must instill good citizenship!— Tony Chumo (@mochuz) July 8, 2018
students should understand that they are responsible for their action. Whatever they do, say, involve in, associate with determine their success. Thumbs up @DCI_Kenya @JBoinnet
— Nicholas-Kipterter (@Nick_Kipterter1) July 8, 2018
Keep up the good job officers. People must be told the bitter truth. The students must understand that choices have far reaching consequences.
Law and order MUST be maintained!— DRifTValley (@Driftronics) July 8, 2018
They need to be prosecuted for long they have been hiding behind uniform
— Amb. RONOH_MYAHUDI (@Robert_Myahudi) July 8, 2018
Worth noting is this crop grow to be great corporate and political thieves. The culture of impunity starts right from school.
— KIRURUm (@Babajackie) July 8, 2018
Thats the right way to go in nurturing & maintaining ethnics at a younger age.Let not your present affect your future negatively.@DCI_Kenya extend the courtesy to other informal institutions as well
— Shawngethi (@shawngethi) July 8, 2018
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has warned Kenyan youth across all learning institutions against engaging in crimes while in school.
In a statement sent out by the DCI under #IfikieMastude slogan on social media, learners in colleges, universities, high schools and pupils have been put on notice.
"This is to warn every student from Primary School, Secondary School, College and University that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is archiving and consolidating charges that may be preferred to each and every student involved in any Crime," warned DCI in the statement.
