Abducted girl found in Tanzania after four years

Ms Caroline Atieno cuddles a baby whom she had kidnapped on October 16, 2014. The family of a six-year old girl who was kidnapped and taken to Tanzania has filed a petition at the Kwale assembly asking for help to bring her back. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO |

What you need to know:

  • The girl’s grandmother Luvuno Chilolwa and other family members say they want the County Assembly to pay Sh50,000 for the DNA test.
  • Speaking outside the assembly on Wednesday, Puma ward representative James Dawa said he would personally assist the family to push through the petition and chip in to offset some of the costs.

The family of a six-year old girl who was kidnapped and taken to Tanzania has filed a petition at the Kwale assembly asking for help to bring her back.

Meselemani Mwaka was abducted from her home in Vanga four years ago. She is now six years old and family members say they have traced her to Mwakijembe village in Tanzania under the care of an old Maasai man.

However, the Maasai is demanding a DNA test to prove the girl belongs to the Kenyan family.

The girl’s grandmother, Luvuno Chilolwa, and other family members say they want the county assembly to pay Sh50,000 for the DNA test.

According to the petition filed by Ms Chilolwa, the girl was one and a half years old when she disappeared.

Acting on information from a resident known as Tambasi Mwajaira, the family traced the girl to Tanzania. The grandmother said they reported to the Lungalunga, Horo Horo and Maforoni police chiefs, who held a joint meeting in Tanzania on September 17.

At the meeting, it was resolved that only a DNA test would settle the matter.

“We are poor and cannot afford these fees yet I need my granddaughter back,” she said.

ACCESS FOR FIVE
Letters from the Department of Immigration, the Lungalunga police station and the Mkombozi Lungalunga community organisation were attached to the petition.

The September 15, 2014 letter from the Immigration Department asked Tanzanian authorities to grant the family access to Mwakijembe village.

The five family members are Mr Beja Nguni (father), Ms Luvuno Chilolwa (grandmother), Masudi Ndegwa, Tambasi Mwajaira and Ms Mwanapili Saidi (mother).

Speaking outside the assembly on Wednesday, Puma ward representative James Dawa said he would personally assist the family to push through the petition and chip in to offset some of the costs.