Students arrested smoking bhang put on probation

A group of students caught smoking bhang at a birthday party in Naivasha will be detained at the Department of Probation and Education for six months.

The 32 students, who were arrested on July 25, at Mirera Estate, are to serve the probation period while undergoing counselling.

Naivasha sub-county education officer, Nancy Mutai, said that they were working closely with the department of probation in monitoring the students.

"The students, 21 boys and 11 girls were arrested for smoking bhang at a house party in Naivasha. They were from different schools, including a local polytechnic. Such cases have become common and we are asking parents to be vigilant and monitor their children's activities," she said.

She added the students would face disciplinary action once the board of management from their various schools met later in the week.

"The students are from day schools, making it difficult to monitor their activities, but we have started counseling sessions. Luckily, none of them was sexually abused," she said.

Mutai said that drug and alcohol abuse among students living in informal settlements was a major concern in the county.

Sakina Mohammed from Lifebloom International added that cases of drug abuse and early marriages in rural areas were on the rise.

She noted that most victims are students, adding that drugs had played a part in the upsurge of the abuse cases. "We are concerned by the rise in cases of sexual abuse in Ndabibi and Moi Ndabi areas. It is time action was taken," she said.

She noted that every week, the organization records at least two cases of sexual abuse involving minors and women.