Nakuru Mothers' Desperate Hunt for Vanished Children

The commemoration of World Children's Day on Wednesday, November 20, brought little solace to two Nakuru County families enduring the torment of their children's disappearances.

While the day typically celebrates youth welfare and rights, Maureen Gesare and Eunice Njeri instead found themselves confronting every parent's worst nightmare. The disappearance of nine-month-old Rehema Kerubo on October 29, 2024, has left her mother, Maureen Gesare, in profound distress. The incident occurred in the crowded Kwa Rhonda estate when neighbourhood children took Rehema to receive free meals at a local charity home. During their return journey, they encountered an unfamiliar woman who, after offering the children refreshments, allegedly abducted Rehema using a waiting Probox vehicle.

Gesare, who supports herself through casual labour, expresses deep frustration with the pace of the investigation, lamenting that authorities appear to show minimal concern for her daughter's recovery. The family's ordeal has been further complicated by mysterious communications from individuals claiming to have possession of Rehema. Lilian Moraa, the child's grandmother, recounts receiving calls from someone in Matayos, Busia County, who demanded fuel money in exchange for delivering the infant to law enforcement.

Despite sharing the caller's contact information with Kaptembwo police station investigators, the lead proved fruitless when the phone number became inactive. In a parallel tragedy, the disappearance of eleven-year-old Vidic Ibrahim has haunted the Lakeview estate since September 11. His mother, Eunice Njeri, recalls how a simple afternoon of play transformed into an endless nightmare when Vidic failed to return home after racing with his friends. Both mothers have undertaken extensive efforts to locate their children, distributing posters and leveraging social media platforms, while expressing disappointment with what they perceive as law enforcement's inadequate response.

During Nakuru West Sub-County's World Children's Day observance, Gladys Kamuren, the County's Chief Officer for Gender, Social Services, and Inclusivity, addressed the escalating concern of child abductions. She attributed part of the challenge to Nakuru's location along a major transit corridor and emphasized the need for enhanced child protection policies. Kamuren also highlighted the county's establishment of shelters for young assault survivors, while Social Protection PS Joseph Motari reaffirmed the government's dedication to child welfare, urging increased parental vigilance.

For these mothers, each passing day brings a complex mixture of hope and despair. Every unexpected visitor and phone call carries the potential for news about their missing children.