DCI Rescue Stolen Nakuru Infant in Kitale Operation

Detectives in Kitale town have successfully rescued a 10-month-old infant who had been abducted from Kuresoi, Nakuru County.

The swift action led to the apprehension of two suspects believed to be involved in a child trafficking syndicate. Authorities found the suspects in possession of a birth certificate bearing the baby's name, falsely listing them as the parents. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intercepted a Kapenguria-bound matatu and detained a 21-year-old woman carrying the infant, who had been reported missing by the parents. The child's mother, Viola Chelimo, had briefly left her baby at home to run an errand, only to return and discover the infant was gone. In a state of distress, she alerted village elder Jane Kerubo who promptly organized a search effort.

After the incident was reported at Sirikwa Police Station, detectives pursued a woman who had been spotted in a nearby maize plantation. Trans Nzoia County Criminal Investigation Officer Paul Songok says that with the assistance of the village elder, officers tracked the suspect and arrested her aboard a public service vehicle en route to Kapenguria from Kitale. Following interrogation, the suspect led to the arrest of an accomplice, Peter Murigi Mwaura, at the Kapenguria bus stage. Child trafficking syndicates often target vulnerable families, exploiting their desperation and lack of resources. While the DCI has been actively working to dismantle these networks, the problem remains a significant concern.

Recent years have seen several high-profile cases of child trafficking in Kenya. In 2020, a BBC Africa Eye investigation exposed a syndicate involved in the theft and sale of infants from illegal clinics and public hospitals in Nairobi. The investigation resulted in the arrest of several individuals, including medical professionals implicated in the trafficking ring. The DCI's Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit has played a crucial role in rescuing minors from trafficking syndicates. In a recent operation, the unit successfully recovered two minors who had been taken from their home in Kakamega County under false pretences.

The suspect had deceived the family by claiming to enrol the child in a sponsorship program before disappearing. While the Kenyan government has been working to enhance child protection services and crack down on trafficking networks, significant challenges persist, including corruption and inadequate resources. Non-governmental organizations like Missing Child Kenya have been instrumental in raising awareness and assisting in the recovery of missing children, handling hundreds of cases in recent years.