A 54-year-old former employee of Thika Child Welfare Society has been charged in court with trafficking a 4-day-old child whose parents are unknown.
Melvin Jangaya Agoi who was arraigned and charged at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi is alleged to have committed the offence on December 1, 2021, at Railways bus terminus within Nairobi county.
According to a police report seen by K24 Digital, officers attached to Railways police station, on December 1, received a report from members of the public that there was a lady at the terminus holding an uncomfortable baby.
"The members of the public suspected that the baby does not belong to the lady because she was covering the mouth of the baby to stop her from crying," the report read in part.
Immediately after receiving the information, the police officers proceeded to the scene and arrested the lady identified as Ruth and took her to the police station with the baby.
Upon interrogation, Ruth disclosed that she received the child from the accused person.
"Upon further interrogation, Ruth disclosed that she met the accused person in 2020 at Thika Child Welfare Society where she had gone to apply for child adoption," the report read in part.
Police officers tracked and arrested the accused person in Vihiga county where she disclosed to have handed over the minor to Ruth.
The investigating officers also went to the Child Welfare Society in Nairobi and confirmed that the accused person's contract expired on June 30, 2020.
The officers further confirmed from the Welfare Society that Ruth and her husband had applied for child adoption but the application had not been approved and the society was not aware of the baby being adopted.
During interrogation, Ruth disclosed to the police that on November 29, 2021, the accused called her and informed her to collect the baby on December 1, 2021.
The accused pleaded not guilty before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi and pleaded for leniency saying she has three minors who depend on her.
The Magistrate slapped her with a cash bail of Ksh150,000 and ordered the matter to proceed for pre-trial on January 24, 2022.
