Nairobi woman steals friend's 2-day old baby, dumps it in Kisii

A woman accused of abducting a two-day-old baby will remain behind bars until the child's mother gives her testimony in court.

Catherine Kerubo Mosweta is under investigation for allegedly stealing the newborn from Emily Mosweta, a Nairobi-based shoe shiner.

According to court documents, Catherine is accused of unlawfully transferring the baby to Kisii County, where she abandoned the infant at the home of an elderly couple before vanishing.

The court heard that the alleged offence took place on 26 May at the Tea Room bus stage in Nairobi. Catherine faces charges under the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act, with prosecutors alleging she used deception to traffic the child.

Investigating officer Erustus Kioko reported that Emily had delivered her baby at a hospital in Kasarani and was discharged on the same day.

As she journeyed home, accompanied by Catherine, the suspect allegedly slipped away into a crowd as they attempted to board a bus to Umoja.

Emily’s efforts to find Catherine were fruitless, as the suspect had switched off her phone and gone off the radar. Unknown to Emily, Catherine had travelled to Kisii County, where she approached an elderly woman’s home under the guise of requesting drinking water.

She handed over the baby to the unsuspecting woman, claiming she needed to use the toilet, then vanished.

Left with no choice, the elderly woman began caring for the baby and eventually reported the matter to local authorities. Attempts to identify the infant’s mother during a community baraza meeting failed, and the matter was referred to the Masimba Children’s Department.

Meanwhile, Emily had filed a missing baby report at Umoja One Police Post and was directed to the children’s desk at Buruburu Police Station.

Acting on intelligence, authorities traced and arrested Catherine on 6 June in Mjambere, Nyali Sub-county, Mombasa. She was transferred to Nairobi on 8 June for interrogation.

Catherine later directed investigators to the Kisii home, where the baby was found peacefully asleep on a bed belonging to the elderly woman.

Senior Resident Magistrate Renee Kitagwa at the Makadara Law Courts ordered that Catherine be remanded until 30 June, when a pre-bail report will be presented.