Nairobi - More than 100 jailed Kenyan street children smeared themselves and their Nairobi cells with faeces in a protest on Wednesday, leading police to call in firefighters to hose them down.

The homeless boys had been jailed at the central police station for several weeks, awaiting transfer to government-sponsored homes.

But their frustration boiled over on Wednesday and the 113 in the jail ran riot, attempting to escape and then demanding to be released or charged, police said.

"They smeared themselves with shit, smeared everywhere with shit and damaged doors trying to escape," said central police station boss Julius Ndegwa.

The boys have also refused to eat, and banged prison doors after their escape attempt failed.