An 8-year-old boy who was kidnapped on Saturday, November 12, in Embakassi’s Tel Aviv area by his stepfather was rescued by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and reunited with his distraught mother.
This is after the mother Everline Nandera reported at Embakasi police station about her missing child.
Nandera had left their home in Embakasi’s Tel Aviv area at daybreak and headed for Muthurwa market, but upon coming back at around 9:20 am, she found her husband and son missing.
A note had been left behind by the husband, who is now a prime suspect in the case, demanding a ransom of Ksh 50,000, for the release of the boy.
In the note, the man warned his wife that he would kill the boy using a kitchen knife which he had carried, should she try any antics.
Nandera filed her case at the Embakasi police station after which detectives from the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) based at DCI Nairobi area assembled and a manhunt for the suspect was launched.
The man was traced and arrested at the NMS Green Park matatu terminus off Haile Sellasie avenue, a few hours later.
It was established that the couple had a heated argument the previous night and as Nandera left for Muthurwa, the man packed his clothes and a kitchen knife in two bags, before taking off with the boy.
Detectives pounced on the suspect at around 4 pm, as he eagerly waited for the ransom to hit his account.
Nandera reunited with her child while the man was escorted to Embakassi police station awaiting arraignment in a court on Monday, November 14.
The DCI asked the public to reach out to them should they have any information.
The kidnapping adds to the rising cases of insecurity in the city even as sweeping reforms continue at the National Police Service. Already, DCI has a new boss Amin Mohamed, while Police Inspector General Japhet Koome is a few days old in office. The two have their work cut out, with President William Ruto having ordered them to contain emerging gangs in Nairobi.
