Agony as Kirinyaga girl, 6, disappears after leaving school

Cynthia Wambui, the mother to six-year-old Shantelle Nekesa who went missing last Thursday in Kirinyaga county/ ALICE WAITHERA

The girl, identified as Shantelle Nekesa, is said to have gone missing on Thursday evening after she was allegedly lured away by an unknown man shortly after arriving home from school.

According to the family, the child was later captured on CCTV footage walking with the stranger to a nearby shopping centre where he bought her cakes before the two disappeared.

Her mother, Cynthia Wambui, said the family is devastated and has been searching for the child without success since Thursday evening.

“I’ve been unable to continue with my life since my child went missing. Anyone with information on her whereabouts should inform me or the police,” she said.

Cynthia said the child had just arrived home from school and that she changed her into home clothes before rushing another unwell child to a hospital only to later receive distressing calls informing her that the girl had been spotted with an unknown man.

She said a woman who saw the child with the stranger questioned where he was taking her, but the man reportedly claimed he wanted to buy the girl a book before disappearing moments later.

The distraught mother said CCTV footage obtained from a nearby shop only showed the man holding the child’s hand as they walked away.

Neighbour and shopkeeper Madrin Njoki said the suspect bought two cakes for the child at her shop before leaving through a road heading uphill.

The household of Cynthia Wambui who lost her six-year-old daughter last Thursday in Kamuthanga, Kirinyaga county/ ALICE WAITHERA

Njoki said the CCTV footage failed to clearly identify the suspect because he had covered part of his face.

The matter was reported at Sagana police station and a manhunt for the suspect launched, though no breakthrough had been made by the time of filing this report.

Pastor Mercy Wambui appealed to whoever was holding the child to return her to the family, saying the disappearance had left the family traumatised and anxious.

“I want to urge the person who has the child to return her so that this family can have peace,” she said.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over rising cases of missing children in the country, with families and child rights groups increasingly raising alarm over child abductions and trafficking.

Kenya has in recent years witnessed several reported cases of children disappearing under mysterious circumstances, with some later reunited with their families while others remain missing for months or years.

The case also comes barely a day after the world marked International Missing Children’s Day, observed annually on May 25 to raise awareness about missing children, support affected families and promote child protection measures globally.

Child protection advocates have continued to urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and closely monitor children amid increasing safety concerns.