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At least 35 girls aged between nine and 17 years have gone missing from their homesteads in unclear circumstances in the last two months in various parts of the country.

The trend is worrying, considering the fact that the girls are vulnerable and can easily become victims of crime, early or forced marriages or be  sexually exploited.

The longest missing girl, Mercy Alimlim, 15, went missing from her family home in African Location, Rumuruti in Laikipia West over two months ago, according to the father, Letaiyu Leman.

It was however not established why the matter was only reported on December 7 at Rumuruti Police Station.

The girl, according to the father, was a Standard Eight pupil at Magomano Primary School.

Five days after the report was made, another parent from the same location reported at the same station that her daughter, Anjela Wanjiku aged 13 and a Grade Eight pupil at AIC Primary School went missing on December 11. “Efforts to trace her have been futile but the matter is under investigations,” police said.

National Police Service (NPS) spokesperson Resila Onyango has advised parents and guardians that whenever a child goes missing, they should report immediately to the police for action.

“The police may also advise the parents on things they can do in the meantime,” she said.

In Turkana Central, Josephine Ekaale also reported at Lodwar police station on Monday that her two daughters LA aged 11 and Evalyne Napeyok aged 9 went missing. She had left them at home and proceeded to Lodwar town where she sells vegetables but found them missing when she came back.

In Nairobi, Nimrod Marete, a resident of Mwihoko, also reported that her daughter Ann Makena Muruingi aged 17 left home on December 13but failed to return home. The missing girl is a Form Three student at Kahawa Garisson Secondary School.

Another girl, Maxine Tabitha Wainaina aged 16 also went missing on December 11 at Kagondo area. She was last seen along Muhuri road near Premier Genesis School wearing an orange pair of trousers and a white jersey.

The matter was reported at Kinoo police station and investigations launched. A relative, Mwikali Wainaina, has pleaded with members of the public to share the posters. “Please do not get tired of sharing the poster, our daughter has not been found yet and we need your help,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Another parent, Peninah Njeri a resident of Kirigiti in Kiambu town reported that her daughter Elizabeth Wanjiru aged 14 also went missing on December 14 from their home and efforts to trace her had not yielded any fruits.

Unknown destination

In Botori, Nyanchwa in Kisii Central, Precence Kemuma went missing on December 14 after she left her home to an unknown destination. The father, Justus Mochiemo reported the matter at Nyanchwa police station three days after she went missing.

In the same county, a family is looking for their daughter, Yvonne Nyanchoka, 17, a student at Kereri Girls High School. According to the family, Nyanchoka was last seen on Monday, December 15. She has not been since.

In Theta, Juja, a 13-year old Grade Eight pupil went missing on December 6 when she left her home in Ruiriro-Judah to an unknown destination. The matter was reported at Theta police station on Monday by the mother, Winfred Wairimu, who identified the daughter as Joy Nyambura who is a pupil at Jubilation School.

Another report was made at the same station, the same day, by Ruth Waithera, a resident of Kwa Mundia within Theta Ward, that her son went missing on December 14, and was yet to be traced

Tyra Keziah Waithera Ndegwa 15 was also reported to have been missing since December 13 from Utawala Kinka area. The matter was reported at Mihang’o police station.

Another girl, Beryl Anyango 16, has also been missing since November 25 in Ongata Rongai. The matter was reported at Ongata Rongai police station.

According to experts, some children deliberately leave home for different reasons. Some of the reasons include family problems for example if the parents are usually fighting or when the parents are addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Other reasons include bullying, being exploited either physically or online, running away with, or from an abuser, and physical or mental abuse.

Dr Onyango has also advised parents to be open and present with the children as this may help them talk about their problems, before reaching a point where they feel like running away.

“The young girls need supervision. Parents should also talk with them and sensitize them on the need to be safe,” she added.

In some cases, the missing girls have been found murdered while others were detained by paedophiles.

According to Missing Child Kenya Foundation, when such missing children are found dead, the families need psychological and psychosocial support, have their suffering acknowledged and receive justice.

“Until these needs are met, families cannot easily rebuild their lives,” the Foundation noted.

In one of the cases this year, Davin Murutu aged 7 went missing from Bungoma County on July 23. On July 27, she was found dead.

Immediate action

To assist the detectives in investigations, parents are advised to check for signs of where they might have gone. This involves checking their rooms, their social media pages and even of their friends, and contacting their friends, among other things.

Parents should also find out if there has been a change in behaviour recently.

When the girls finally return home, the most important thing is to create an environment where they feel listened to, loved and supported.

Interrogate them to establish if, for example, they were sexually abused and try to get the details of the person they were with. In case they were defiled, immediate action should be taken and the victim taken to hospital for examination

“The details about the missing children should be removed once they have been found. It is also unsafe to leave personal information about these children online,” she said.