A second-year college student is one of the two suspects arrested on Sunday in Siaya for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old boy.
The two were arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations based at Ugunja police station.
The boy's mother, Josephine Achieng, a resident of Asere village in Umalla, reported that her son was missing.
The child had been playing within their compound with other children. A police report indicates that the suspects rang the parents of the boy, claiming to be in Busia with him.
"They verbally and through a text message demanded Sh60,000 ransom to release the minor," the report reads.
Instead of sending the money to the suspected criminals, the boy's father mounted a search.
"He then met one of the suspects carrying the child on motorcycle registration number KMFB 534 S and raised the alarm, prompting members of the public to intervene," the report further reads.
The suspect dropped the child and ran away.
Ugunja subcounty criminal investigations officer Andrew Nyambache and police officers from Ugunja police station pursued and arrested the suspects. They also seized the motorcycle.
Siaya county police commander Michael Muchiri said the duo is being held at the Ugunja police station.
"The two suspects were identified as Michael Were, 22, and Kevin Odhiambo Onyango, 22," he said.
He said Onyango is a second-year building technology student at Kasarani Institute in Nairobi.
Police said his telephone number was used to ask for the ransom through a text message.