Abducted girl’s family seeks help

The family of a girl kidnapped last year and taken to Tanzania wants the government to help them trace their daughter.

The government should put pressure on Tanzania to assist in finding Delvin Bosibori Okioyi, who was a Form Three student at Gianchere Secondary, Kisii County.

Parents Julius Orieko Okioyi and Beatrice Kwamboka said Delvin disappeared in October last year. They claim to have crucial leads that could help in her rescue.

The girl is suspected to have been kidnapped by while waiting for a matatu to Keumbu shopping centre. The abductors have never contacted the family.

Mr Okioyi said his daughter was in the company of another female student who was also kidnapped, but later escaped.

“Despite the police being furnished with the necessary information, my daughter has not been rescued.”

The father said the Kenyan police had linked him with their Tanzanian counterparts for assistance, but there had been no progress.

The parents have made several trips to Geita near Mwanza where they believe their daughter is being held, as per the information from the girl who escaped.

“In one of the houses belonging to the suspects, we found some of my daughter’s clothes. Tanzanian police were not of much help because they left me to trace my daughter alone,” Mr Okioyi said.

He said the student who fled, Hema Ombati, had crucial information which could lead to the rescue of his daughter.

According to that girl, the two shook hands with the abductors and started following them unconsciously.

They boarded a vehicle to Gilgil where they stayed for a few days before proceeding to Sirare and later crossed the border to Mwanza. They were then taken to Geita and locked up in a house.

But one day, the kidnappers allowed them out of the house. Hema seized the opportunity and escaped from the abductors.

LACK OF PROPER COORDINATION

Kisii police boss Paul Ombogo said the incident was reported to him and his office asked the family to provide more information for him to pursue the matter.

Mr Ombogo said it was wrong for the family to have pursued the suspects to Tanzania without proper coordination between Kenyan and Tanzanian police officers.

“The information will enable us to coordinate with our Tanzanian counterparts to assist us trace the suspect and the abducted student,” said the police officer.