A 33-year old woman in Werugha village in Taita-Taveta County is appealing to the government to get back her two children reportedly abducted by her estranged husband two weeks ago.
One of them is a 15-months old baby girl who was still suckling. The other is a four-year old boy.
Ms. Flora Mwamburi, the mother, said she had moved back to her father’s home in Werugha August this year after having lived with her husband in Bomet County since 2015.
“I came back to my father’s place because I wanted some space,” said the teary mother.
Her estranged husband followed her to Werugha village to attempt convince her to move in back with him. She refused. In November 14, he came again to visit and was accompanied by a cousin working with security agencies. After the guests were welcomed and entertained by the host, they would later flee with the children while the mother was busy in the kitchen getting water to wash their hands.
Ms. Mwamburi says they had hired a taxi to drive them away.
“I went to get water from the kitchen to wash their hands but when I came back, I found no one in the living room. I panicked and rushed out. Neighbors told me they saw my children being bundled in the car which then drove off quickly,” she said.
The distraught mother rushed to Wundanyi Police Station where she reported the matter but was not issued with an OB number until the following day. Sources say she was advised to report the matter to the children office because it involved minors and their father.
But Ms. Mwamburi insists they would have acted more urgently.
“I rushed to the police because I wanted them to act quickly and intercept the vehicle before it went too far. That didn’t happen. I now don’t know where my children are,” she says.
When contacted, Wundanyi Sub County Police Commander Mr. Onesmus Kombe said he was aware of the case and the mother’s plight. He added that a signal of the incident was sent to Bomet County where police are establishing the whereabouts of the man and the children.
He however urged the mother to be patient stating the relevant government agencies were doing everything possible to trace the man and the children.
He pointed out that it was a sensitive family issue that involves children and parents and had procedures including getting official reports and directions from children department which would allow the police to act.
“We are doing the best to help the mother. A signal has already been sent to Bomet where the man is suspected to be,” he said.
Wundanyi Sub-County Children Officer Mr. John Menja said the office had already written a referral letter to the mother to have the case attended to at children office in Konoin Sub-County in Bomet County.
“We have already acted and did a referral letter to government officials where the estranged husband and the children are said to be living,” he said.
Mr. Alexander Mwangeka, a relative to the woman, said they were trying all government avenues to ensure the mother was reunited with her children
By Wagema Mwangi
