Police in Nandi are investigating a seven month baby theft incident which happened in a rental property at Kamatargui Estate, a few kilometres from Kapsabet town.
Investigating police say they are pursuing a suspect said to have sought a tea harvesting job but later on disappeared with the baby and property belonging to one Agnes Jerop.
Jerop, 20, who accomplished her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education last year and is staying with her parents, narrated to the police how the suspect within a short time got a casual tea plucking job from the neighbour before stealing her baby, Johnson Dida Ochieng and property of unknown value two weeks ago.
“I left my baby to the new neighbour who was only two weeks old to take care of my baby in our residence as I went to the river to wash clothes but upon returning, I was shocked that my baby and my entire property was missing,” disturbed Jerop said.
Shocked Jerop’s family members and neighbours have asked the security agencies to speed up the probe for the kid after their two weeks search efforts bore no fruit with others calling for the police to investigate Jerop’s lover.
Kapsabet town Police Commander Moris Okul says investigations have started while calling the neighbours and members of the public to volunteer with information which could lead to arrest of the suspect.
Okul wants the employers and house rental property owners to carry out a due diligence background check of intending unknown tenants before allowing them into their property.
“You should be careful before renting out your property to strangers. Let them give you copies of national identities so that we can help the police in case of such incidents,” he said.
By Geoffrey Satia