The family of a nine-year-old girl from Kayole, Nairobi County has been thrown into mourning after her lifeless body was found on a building's rooftop.
According to reports, the young child was discovered missing after her mother went out to tell her daughter, who had been playing with her friends to get back into the house since it was getting dark.
The mother, friends and neighbours spent hours looking for the Grade 3 pupil before they went to file a missing person report at the Kayole and Soweto Police Stations.
Her body was later found dumped on the rooftop of the adjacent building. She was reportedly defiled before being murdered.
The deceased's body was moved to the mortuary as the family awaited an autopsy to be conducted. Police have since launched investigations to bring the culprit(s) to book.
The incident has been condemned by Kenyans who have called upon the police and other security personnel to ensure the safety of children who are often targetted by criminals.
Additionally, Kenyans condoled with the family of the girl while demanding justice for her and others who have lost their lives in similar circumstances.
Police were also urged to investigate the cases of children's mysterious disappearances across the country. Some of these children go missing without a trace while others are later found dead.
According to the police, at least 18 children are reported missing daily and about 6,500 go missing annually. The number could however be higher since some cases are not reported.
Mary Munyendo the founder and Executive Director of Missing Child Kenya Found in a past interview revealed that most children who are kidnapped or reported missing are trafficked outside the country.
"The issue of missing children is a problem in Kenya and is not just unique to Kenya, it is common in other developing countries," she remarked.
Parents have been urged to protect their children from predators in society who prey on the vulnerable such as children, women and the elderly.
