Man arrested for allowing minor to drive accused of stealing driving licence

There was a twist of events at Athi River police station on Wednesday after a man who was arrested for allowing his 9-year-old son to drive was accused of stealing a driving license.

A man reported that the suspect in police custody had impersonated him. He said the suspect had given police officers his details as his own.

The suspect who had been placed under custody at the police station had told the officers that he was a Mr Walter Musimi which turned out to be a lie.

The real Walter Musimi said he learnt of the impersonator after he read on the media about a father who had been arrested in Athi River for allegedly allowing his underage child to drive along Mombasa road.

This, he said, prompted him to get to the station and raise his complaints.

The suspect had his national identification card bearing his real identity during the arrest which he later surrendered to investigating officers after the complainant emerged.

Athi River South sub-county police commander Mary Njoki confirmed the impersonation claims.

Njoki told the Star that more criminal charges will be pressed on the suspect following the new developments.

"It's unfortunate that the suspect impersonated another man who has since reported the matter to us. He had earlier told the officers that he was a Mr. Walter Musimi but we found out he was using another man's details.  The complaint claims he had earlier lost his driving license, a matter that he promptly reported to the police," Njoki said.

Njoki confirmed that the suspect produced his national identification card, proving the impersonation claims.

She said the DCI had already taken up the matters and active investigations were underway.

“The suspect will be arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts on Thursday to face the first charges of unlawfully allowing a minor to drive a vehicle against the law as investigations into the impersonation and theft claims continue,” Njoki said.

The suspect was arrested after his nine-year-old son was found driving along Mombasa Road on Wednesday.

Njoki said the incident happened at around 0700 hours.

"It happened today that traffic police officers on normal duties along Mombasa Road spotted a motor vehicle make Toyota Passio driven by a male minor aged 9 years. The officers flagged down the vehicle, but it sped off leading to a chase by the officers along Devki - Makadara Road," Njoki said.

The Star established that the said child was a Grade 4 pupil at a nearby school.

His younger sister aged 5 and a PP1 pupil at the same school was seated at the back. Both were in school uniforms.

Their father (suspect) was also an occupant in the said vehicle and was seated at the front seat during the incident.

A police officer privy to the incident said the minors' father pushed the boy to his seat and took over the steering wheel when he noticed the officers flagging down the vehicle.

He sped off prompting the officers to give him a chase before he was arrested.

Both the children were taken to school that is approximately 300 metres from Athi River police station after their father was arrested and locked up at the station.

He spent his Wednesday night at the station and will be arraigned on Thursday.

The suspect told the officers that his son likes to drive at high speed and had been driving for the last two years.

"I taught him how to drive. I had hired a car from a friend to run some errands today. I know it's dangerous but it happened," he said.

Njoki said the vehicle had been impounded at the same station pending inspection.

She cautioned parents against allowing their underage children to drive motor vehicles contrary to stipulated Kenyan laws.

The police boss said such acts endanger other motorists and violate 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,” Njoki said.