Police in the Embakasi area rescued 16 children found in a house in Soweto, Kayole, on Monday, February 19, after a whistleblower highlighted the plight of the children.
The alert was raised by one Daniel Odongo, a children protection officer in Embakasi Central constituency.
Odongo informed the police about the presence of the children in a plot within Nyando area, prompting law enforcement to take action.
During the operation, authorities arrested two individuals: Linet Akinyi, a Kenyan, and Isaack Mwanjeka, a Tanzanian national. The suspects were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for why the children were under their care. The minors were discovered housed in a two-room rental house.
Police suspect that the children were being prepared for trafficking to an undisclosed location. Investigations into the matter have commenced, and the two suspects are currently in custody.
Child trafficking remains a significant concern in Kenya, although reliable statistics are scarce. According to Florence Bore, the country’s Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary, between July 2022 and May 2023, 6,841 children were reported missing, with only 1,296 reunited with their families.
Traffickers often exploit Kenyan children for various purposes, including labor trafficking in domestic service, agriculture, and fishing. They are also forced into cattle herding, street vending, and forced begging.
