Woman arrested in Mlolongo, confesses to stealing and selling babies for Ksh.50K

Police in Mlolongo, Machakos County have arrested a woman who is alleged to be part of a child theft syndicate operating in the area linked to the theft of three children.

Miriam Wesonga was arrested after a resident who had witnessed her fleeing after allegedly stealing a baby in March this year raised the alarm.

The two-and-a-half-year-old baby boy was later found in Kakamega County.

Miriam who allegedly confessed to be working with two other accomplices says she has been receiving Ksh.50,000 for delivering a child to her clients.

She was arrested after one of the residents who had witnessed her take off with a baby in March raised alarm.

"Mimi ndiye mtoto wangu alikuwa amepotea March tukampata huko Ogalo market, sasa huyu msichana amerudi leo hatujui kama ni kusurvey alikuwa anasurvey huyu rafiki yetu ndio alimuona akamshika akatuambia ...,” said Boniface Kinywa, a resident of Mlolongo.

Residents then took her to the chief's office where she was interrogated and confessed that she was part of a baby theft syndicate that was involved in an illegal business of stealing children and selling them for as low as Ksh.50,000.

“Amesema huwa wako mama watatu wanafanya hiyo biashara. Wanachukua watoto pande hii wanapeleka nchi jirani ya Uganda wanaenda kuuza hao watoto huko na anasema alikuwa amepewa elfu hamsini, kwa kila mtoto wanapewa elfu hamsini,” said Mlolongo Chief Peter Ndunda.

Ndunda who acknowledged the rise in reports of missing children in the area says Miriam confessed to have had stolen three children from the area.

Miriam who has been remanded at Mlolongo Police Station is expected to be give more information on the syndicate's operation and help in tracing some of the missing children from the area.

Her arrest comes just two months after another suspect Christine Masika was arrested in Kasarani after she attempted to sell a 5 days old baby for Ksh.400,000 to detectives.

Masika is currently being held at Lang’ata Women's Prison Remand.