Man Arrested For Letting 9 year Old Son To Drive On Busy Road

The nine-year-old was seen driving a saloon automobile while in complete school uniform on Mombasa Road in Machakos County on Wednesday morning.

When the child was flagged down by traffic police, he sped off in the direction of Athi River township.

The father was seated in the co-driver's seat while his other child, a seven-year-old daughter also in a school uniform, was in the back seat.

Agnes Makau, the commander of Athi Rover Base, said the officers chased the car and halted it before it entered the two kids' private school in Athi River.

"Our officers managed to corner the boy, who was driving at high speed before he went past the school gate. He was driving dangerously and he had not fastened the safety belt," Makau said.

The father was taken into custody together with his kids and escorted to the Athi River Police Station. Later, police officers drove the kids to school in a police car.

He told the cops that his son has been driving for the past two years and enjoys driving fast.

"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," said the father.

The police chief for Athi River, Mary Njoki, advised parents against letting their minor children operate a car since it puts other drivers in danger and is against the law.

The legal driving age in Kenya is 18 years.