Sleuths in Thika, Kiambu County have arrested a 36-year-old woman after she allegedly stole a 5-day-old baby at a hotel in Thika town.
According to the child’s mother Dorcas Kivuva, the baby who was born at Thika Level Five Hospital had been stolen by her 2-month-old friend whom she met at a soup joint within Thika town where their friendship was birthed.
Kivuva, 33, revealed that she met Joyce Wamaitha, the prime suspect when she was seven months pregnant after they started sharing about life challenges.
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While in the conversation, Kivuva, an impoverished woman was awarded a phone by Wamaitha after she disclosed that she has no device to communicate with her at a distance.
Interestingly, the young friendship grew faster to a point that only Wamaitha could take care of her while in hospital and after delivery, the prime suspect hired a taxi to move her from the hospital to a hotel where she bought her meals.
“She gave me a phone after I told her that I don’t have one. We have been communicating all along and she is actually the person who has been taking care of me while in hospital,”Kivuva revealed.
At the hotel, apprehensive Wamaitha who was holding the baby all along paid the bills using an Mpesa transaction even before they started enjoying the meal.
Minutes after Kivuva moved to wash her hands to join Wamaitha at the table, the suspect suddenly disappeared in a vehicle that was waiting for her outside the hotel.
Kivuva revealed that Wamaitha was arrested days after she reported the matter to police who tracked her using various technological methods.
“I almost fainted after I realized she had fled with my child. I was however helped by women who surrounded me after I screamed severally. With their help, I managed to hold it up before I recorded a statement with the police,” she added.
Joseph Thuvi, the DCIO in charge of Thika-Sub County confirmed the arrest of the prime suspect at Kambiti area of Murang’a County.
Thuvi revealed that police are interrogating Wamaitha to establish whether she has been in the business of stealing and selling babies or the motive behind stealing the toddler.
“We are investigating whether the woman has been in the illegal business here in Thika and across the country but for now, we will continue holding her for further interrogation,” Thuvi stated.
