How Nairobi woman attempted to sell her 5-day-old grandson for Sh400,000

by Wanja Waweru

A 39-year-old woman is accused of breaching Section 3(1)(d) of the Human Trafficking Act 2010 by attempting to sell her five-day-old grandson for Sh400,000.

The lady was suspected of conspiring with unknown parties to try to sell the child before she was arrested by the police on April 9, 2023, who posed as potential buyers.

The accused left Nairobi with the child the next day, promised to take care of him, and traveled to her remote home in Kakaminga County on April 7, 2023, four days after the birth of her 16-year-old daughter.

The child’s mother told her daughter that she would go see the child as soon as the school was out. She allegedly initiated a plan to sell the child, and the Good Samaritan revealed the scheme to the authorities.

Negotiations for the child were initiated by police officers stationed at Kasarani Police Station in Nairobi who posed as buyers and offered Sh300,000 while the accused demanded Sh400,000.

After setting up a date at a local diner, they eventually capture the woman, rescue the infant, and take him to a children’s home.

On April 9, 2023, after the suspect was arrested, the accused’s daughter was also arrested. Later, she was taken to Kasarani Police Station where she gave a statement to the police for the duration of the investigations.

The 16-year-old was placed under protection and named as a witness in the case against her mother.

Since her arrest, the suspect has been in custody after Police Officer Jackson Moachala of Kasarani Police Station, who is looking into the case, received orders from the Makadara Law Courts to detain the suspect for 14 days until investigations could be completed.

Before Presiding Judge Louis Jathro of Makadara Law Courts, the defendant refuted the charges and granted release on Sh200,000 bond. The case will begin hearing on May 9, 2023.