Police in Eldoret have arrested a middle-aged man over alleged involvement in a child trafficking syndicate in Uasin Gishu County.
According to police investigations, the mastermind of the alleged syndicate ring is said to be working with a secondary school dropout whom he had recruited for the assignment.
Confirming the incident, Turbo sub-county police commander Patrick Wekesa stated that the suspect is assisting the police with the investigation into the matter.
The mastermind of the syndicate is said to use his victims once they have been smuggled out of the country to extort money running into millions of shillings from their parents in exchange for their freedom.
Police officers also managed to rescue two minors aged 14 and 15 years who were about to be smuggled out of the country by the suspect via the Kenya-Uganda border.
Wekesa stated that the suspect arrived at the Road Block estate in a taxi from Busia town to pick up the minors he had secured through his connections in the area.
The minors, who were learning in a public secondary school in Turbo sub-county, had terminated their studies two weeks ago after being promised lucrative opportunities in a foreign country.
A team of armed police detectives in a vehicle waited for the suspect as he was being driven all the way from Busia town to the said estate in the outskirts of Eldoret city.
Authorities have warned parents and guardians to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals who approach minors with promises of better opportunities abroad. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks and bring those involved to justice.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and identify other possible accomplices. Law enforcement officials have urged the public to provide any information that could aid in the probe.
Child trafficking remains a serious issue in the region, with authorities working closely with international agencies to curb the menace and ensure the safety of vulnerable children.
