Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two child trafficking suspects and successfully recovered a three-year-old boy who was abducted from his home in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
DCI officers apprehended the duo after the child's distressed parents reported his disappearance at Ruiru Police Station.
After the case was booked as a "missing child alert", the officers got to work, searching for the suspects across Western and Central Kenya.
Following crucial intelligence leads, the detectives stormed a residence in Tetu, Nyeri County, where they found the missing boy in the company of two men.
The house owner and the alleged kidnapper were swiftly apprehended in the rescue mission. The child was taken to safety, and the suspects were taken into police custody.
"Storming one of the suspects' houses in Tetu, Nyeri County, detectives found the minor in the company of the house owner and the man believed to have snatched him away from his Ruiru home, thereby rescuing him to safety and cuffing the two suspects," DCI said in a statement.
According to the DCI Officers, medical examinations are being conducted on the rescued child to assess his well-being before he is reunited with his parents.
The arrest of the two suspected child traffickers came amid increased cases of missing children.
Reports from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit have revealed that child trafficking has become an increasing threat, with perpetrators targeting vulnerable minors for exploitation.
The Unit has vowed to deploy maximum force to dismantle criminal networks involved in trafficking.
This case adds to the numerous cases of missing children in recent times in the country. Authorities believe that organised syndicates could be behind multiple cases reported in recent months.
Meanwhile, the country is in a spot because even adults are being abducted. Reports by the National Security tabled in Parliament revealed that cases of abductions and kidnappings have increased by 44 per cent.
