A five-year-old girl was allegedly sold by her mother in Kieni East, Nyeri County for Ksh28,000 to a buyer in the neighbouring county of Laikipia.
In yet another case that highlighted the plight of poor households in the country in the face of Covid-19, the child was child was dependent on a feeding program in the community.
Caregivers at the programme described the girl as jovial and well displined with her absence for a number of days making them suspicious.
"She is a very obedient, very hard-working, she is class one and is just generally an awesome child," stated a woman from the area.
The matter was raised with the police by a caregiver who got wind of the intention to sell the child.
"What made me report the matter is that there was a time the child went missing and her mother told me there were some people who were willing to buy the baby for around Ksh20,000," noted the caregiver.
Kieni East Sub County Police Commander Wilberforce Sicherani, confirmed the incident and the arrests.
"We have arrested two women and the mother, the two women are from Matanya and we are grateful because have found the child, we will proceed with investigations.
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"The amount is said to be Ksh28,500 we continue to investigate where the money was taken," explained Sicherani.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned at the Nanyuki Law Courts on Wednesday, June 17, as the girl and her younger sister are sheltered by well-wishers.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on the economy with a number of families across the country bearing the brunt.
One of the most publicised stories was the tearful case of Peninah Kitaso, a mother from Kasauni, Mombasa County in April who was forced to boil stones to trick her children to sleep since she was unable to feed them.
