Outrage in Kenya After Video Shows Adults Giving Alcohol to Schoolboys

NAIROBI, Kenya — A 25-second video circulating online has sparked widespread outrage in Kenya after appearing to show adult men giving an alcoholic drink to young schoolboys dressed in school uniforms.

The footage shows several boys gathered in a residential setting while a number of adults stand around them. One man, wearing a white jersey and grey trousers, is seen holding a bottle of alcohol and handing it to a schoolboy, who opens his mouth and takes a gulp.

Another man dressed in a red polo shirt appears to watch the incident while other people look on.

The footage has prompted concerns over child safety, the alleged supply of alcohol to minors and the exploitation of children for entertainment or social media content.

Adults Heard Encouraging Child to Drink

In the video, one of the men can be heard encouraging the child to drink.

“Piga, piga... Meza meza! Iko aje?” the man asks after the pupil takes a sip.

Another voice is heard saying, “Hapana hapana hapana!” as if attempting to stop the interaction.

A second boy appears to run away laughing after another adult asks whether he wants to taste the drink.

The adults are also heard warning the children against disclosing what happened.

“Na usijaribu kusema umepatiwa kitu hapa wewe!” one man says.

The apparent attempt to discourage the children from reporting the incident has intensified concerns among Kenyans over the welfare and protection of the minors involved.

Calls for Police Investigation

The video triggered a wave of anger on social media, with users calling for the individuals involved to be identified and investigated.

Some users tagged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service (NPS), urging authorities to establish where the incident occurred and take appropriate action.

The video was initially shared on Instagram by an account using the handle @eganz.a. The account has since been deleted, although copies of the footage continued circulating online.

Authorities had not, at the time of publication, publicly confirmed whether an investigation had been opened or whether any suspects had been arrested.

Kenyans Condemn Treatment of Minors

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about child protection and the responsibility of adults to safeguard minors from harmful substances and abusive situations.

One social media user called for the men to be traced and held accountable, describing the incident as unacceptable.

Another questioned the kind of environment being created for children when adults themselves encourage school-going minors to consume alcohol.

Other users called on parents, local administrators and law enforcement agencies to intervene and ensure that children exposed to such situations receive appropriate protection.

The outrage has also focused on the fact that the incident was allegedly recorded and shared online, with many Kenyans questioning why adults would expose minors to alcohol and then circulate footage of the encounter.

What Kenyan Law Says

Kenya has laws protecting children from abuse, exploitation and exposure to harmful substances.

The Children Act, 2022 provides protections against various forms of abuse and harmful treatment and places a duty on adults and institutions to safeguard children's welfare.

The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act also prohibits the sale or supply of alcoholic drinks to persons under the age of 18. Individuals found supplying alcohol to minors may face legal consequences under the law.

Whether specific offences were committed in the incident, and which provisions may apply, would ultimately depend on the findings of a formal investigation and the evidence available to authorities.

Child Protection Concerns

Beyond the legal questions, child protection advocates are likely to view the footage as a serious warning about the risks minors face when adults facilitate access to alcohol.

The children appear to be of primary school age and are identifiable by their uniforms, raising additional concerns about their privacy and potential exposure to further harm as the video continues to circulate.

Members of the public have therefore been urged to avoid sharing identifiable images or videos of minors involved in potentially abusive situations and instead report such material to the relevant authorities.

The incident has placed renewed attention on the enforcement of Kenya's child protection and alcohol-control laws, as Kenyans await clarification from law enforcement agencies on whether the adults captured in the video will be identified and prosecuted.