A Kenyan woman from Mombasa County was on Tuesday arrested on human trafficking charges following police investigations.
Ms Jospehine Muthoni Kariuki, 27, is said to have rented out her womb to carry a baby to term and later gave it away to two Chinese nationals Mahesh Chudasama and Neo Kian Fu.
Police nabbed Muthoni at Mombasa Hospital where she had gone for a routine check-up following her delivery on July 18, 2018.
"Officers went to the hospital to inquire about the information and met the mother at the maternity ward and she recorded a statement," Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti revealed.
[caption caption="DCI boss George Kinoti addresses a crowd during a past public forum on security"]
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The DCI boss further elaborated that the three trafficking suspects had drawn up an agreement to the effect that she would receive rent amounting to Ksh30,000 for every month she was pregnant.
"They produced a copy of a letter from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board allegedly signed by its chairman, Prof George Magoha, and dated November 11, 2016.
"The letter authorised the doctor the expansion of the spectrum of assisted reproductive technology (ART) service in Mombasa," Kinoti relayed.
Muthoni allegedly also received an additional Ksh28,500 per month for the duration of the gestational period and a final Ksh500,000 after the documentation of the child and release through a court procedure.
Lawyers who drew up the alleged legal documents had corroborated with an advocate at the children's court to process papers that would transfer parental rights to the Chinese couple.
At barely two weeks old, the baby boy was taken to the Baby Life Rescue Centre pending an application for protection and care at the children's court in the coastal city.
[caption caption="Josephine Muthoni (L) arraigned in court on July 31, 2018 for selling baby boy to Chinese nationals Mahesh Chudasama and Neo Kian Fu"]
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