Two women arrested, manhunt on for paedophile who escaped lynching in Kilifi

Two women have been arrested for allegedly exposing children to paedophilia involving a foreign national.

The suspects, Fatma Muhammed and Lafisa Abdulrashid, were apprehended just moments before they could deliver the children to the main suspect, a foreign national identified as Michael Ballantine.

The two women were presented before Resident Magistrate Nkurunya Namunyak. Parents recounted the painful ordeal upon discovering the suspects were on the run.

One distressed parent described how their child was taken at 9pm. The child later disclosed that the foreigner had inappropriately touched them.

"Alichukuliwa saa tisa jioni na Fahitha, mtoto akaniambia yule mzungu alimshika sehemu zake za siri. Tukaenda hospitali na ameonekana kuwa amejeruhiwa...mtoto wangu amejeruhiwa vibaya mbele na nyuma,” lamented Yusra Salim, the mother to one of the victims.

Rukia Salim, a relative to the victim, added; “Watoto wakiulizwa wanasema walishikwa huko mbele mara wakaingizwa mdudu kwenye mdomo, kwenda hospitali ikabainika ni kweli walifanyiziwa."

Fatma and Lafisa were apprehended following a carefully planned ambush, moments before they could deliver the children to the main suspect. The swift action by law enforcement prevented further harm to the children

So far, claims involving six children have surfaced. Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro, alongside other female legislators, is now pressuring the police to arrest the main suspect.

“Anajulikana anaishi wapi na tunataka akuwe tracked mpaka ashikwe. Huyo alikosa imani na roho mpaka anatamani watoto wa miaka mitatu, tunataka kumjua huyo ni shetani mgani," Malindi Woman Representative Amina Mnyazi said.

"Tumeshtuka sana isije ikawa wanatengeneza pono na kuziuza nchi za inje. Mtoto wa miaka tatu na sita atakufanyia starehe gani na wanawake wako warembo sana na nguvu zetu. Amekuwa akilipa wazazi ili akalale na watoto wadogo.”

The two accomplices are currently being held in custody for an additional seven days as police hunt down the main suspect.Top of Form