Police in Nakuru have busted 57 secondary school students while watching pornographic materials and smoking bhang.

The detectives who were backed by County Enforcement officers also locked up eight operators of the play stations among them two minors who were arrested during the afternoon crackdown. Officers also recovered three laptops used for screening the inappropriate material.

Nakuru Town East enforcement officer James Kinanga said his team swung into action after receiving a tip-off from members of the public about suspicious activities within the premises.

“The culprits were headed to their respective homes after schools started closing for second term vacation. When we raided the building, we caught them dressed in uniforms while smoking bhang and watching pornographic materials,” said Kinanga.

He identified Nakuru Boys High, Meteitei Boys in Nandi, Londiani Boys, Kapsabet Boys, Menengai High School and Molo Academy as some of the institutions where the learners came from.

Schools started closing on Wednesday morning to enable students travel in time to their respective homes. Most of the suspects were homebound for Mombasa, Nairobi, Thika, Limuru and Kapsabet.

“Investigations have been launched to arraign them in court. The suspects shall be charged with operating an illegal business while children have been released after notifying their respective schools and parents. They shall be taken for guidance and counseling sessions,” said Kinanga

Nakuru County Director of Education Director Dr. William Sugut said his department was liaising with the Ministry of Interior to avert cases of students involving themselves in lawlessness and crime during holidays.

He said it was insensitive for operators of play stations to expose young minds to improper content.

“That is a criminal activity. The culprits should be dealt with ruthlessly. We have heightened our alertness particularly during holidays to crack down on those who want to involve our pupils in illicit drugs and undesirable media content,” he warned

Dr. Sugut stated that police and county enforcement officers would continue cracking down on operators of play stations that have increasingly become a sore thumb in the county.

A rising number of students have been caught involved in illicit activities during school holidays

In April this year, ten students from five secondary schools were arrested in a rental house at Kanu Street, after they were found smoking bhang, taking liquor and shisha.

In another incident, about 30 others linked to drug abuse were also rounded up in different estates in Nakuru Town West.

Eighteen students from Moi Forces Academy in Lanet also recorded statements at Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after they were caught in a video camera that went viral smoking bhang in a dormitory

In the video clip captured last week, two of the students were sharing a puff while the other schoolgirls were either dancing to background music or watching in amazement.

KNA by Anne Mwale/ Jecinta Waithera