Langas parents still searching for their missing children 2 years later

More than two years after a series of child disappearances in Langas Estate, Uasin Gishu County, dozens of parents are still living in pain and uncertainty, clinging to hope that one day they will be reunited with their missing children.

One parent after another has come forward to narrate how their children vanished under mysterious circumstances, with no breakthrough despite repeated reports to the authorities.

Josephine Mwihaki recounted how her nine-month-old child was abducted outside a shop while playing with other children. She said the child was picked up by an unknown man who disappeared without a trace.

“My efforts to find my child have borne no fruit. I reported the matter to the police, hoping for help, but up to now, nothing has come out of it,” Mwihaki said. More than a year later, she is still left wondering where her baby could be.

Scammers taking advantage

Adding to her suffering, Mwihaki revealed that scammers have taken advantage of her desperation. She said she has repeatedly received calls from people claiming to have found her child, only to realise later that they were fraudsters after she had sent them money.

Another victim, Susan Mmbone, said the disappearance of her child led to the collapse of her marriage. Her ordeal mirrors Mwihaki’s experience. After reporting the case, she received calls from individuals who claimed her child had been found in Narok and would be taken to Maunda Police Station.

“They kept calling me and assuring me that my child was safe and would be brought to the police station. Out of desperation, I believed them,” Mmbone said.

She added that after prolonged communication, the callers later claimed they would deliver the child directly to her home in Langas.

“I sold what little I had and sent them money, only to later be told by the police that the callers were scammers. That broke me completely,” she said.

Missing children

The number of missing children in Langas Estate continues to rise, raising concern among residents. So far, none of the missing children has been recovered, leaving parents frustrated and questioning the effectiveness of security agencies in the area.

Kapseret Sub-County Police Commander Zephaniah Kamureny confirmed that all the cases have been officially reported at Langas Police Station and assured residents that investigations are ongoing. However, parents are increasingly asking how long they must wait for answers.

Human rights organisations claim that more than 15 children have disappeared without a trace since March last year. They accuse security agencies of laxity in following up on the cases and apprehending those responsible.

Benson Juma, a human rights activist based in Eldoret, described the situation as alarming.

“The response from the police is worrying. Either they lack the capacity to trace missing children or to arrest the culprits,” Juma said.

He called for the deployment of special security units to curb the growing cases of child abduction in the region.

More Articles

---