Stolen baby reunited with mother
Ms Caroline Atieno cuddles Lavender Audia's baby, whom she had kidnapped on October 16, 2014. She was arrested with the baby in Isebania, Migori County, where she had sought refuge. Silver, the baby, was given back to her mother on October 20, 2014. FILE PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The baby, who was stolen on Thursday, had been traced to Isebania in Migori County, over 170 kilometres away from home, after a four-day search.
- She added that prior to handing the baby over, the woman had asked her for her mobile phone. She later realised that the woman did so in a bid to delete her own number from the phone book.
A four-day-old child, who was stolen, has been reunited with her mother.
Silver was given back to her mother, Ms Lavender Audia, on Monday evening. The baby, who was stolen on Thursday, had been traced to Isebania in Migori County, over 170 kilometres away from home, after a four-day search.
The 26-year-old mother, relatives and friends were jubilant during the reunion at the Central Police Station.
Police officers who led the search said the suspected thief was traced to the Isebania border Town, where her husband lives.
Ms Audia, a tailor, said she could not believe that a client she trusted could steal her baby.
“Before I left Kisumu last month, my wife had claimed she was pregnant, so when she followed me with a baby, I was not shocked,” said the husband of the suspect, who will be taken to court on Wednesday.
Ms Audia said the suspect had been her client for over six months and they had become friends.
“When I was going into labour, she offered to help me. She even came to assist me when I was discharged from Lumumba Hospital,” Ms Audia said. The woman continued to help her at her Manyatta Estate home for the next four days.
HOODWINKED
On the day the baby disappeared, she had offered to pay for Ms Audia’s shopping.
“We went to Tuskys Supermarket and she offered to wait with the baby outside, saying the temperature inside was not good for the child,” Ms Audia said.
She added that prior to handing the baby over, the woman had asked her for her mobile phone. She later realised that the woman did so in a bid to delete her own number from the phone book.
“After the shopping, I reached for my phone to call her as agreed but her contact was missing. I went outside but she was nowhere to be found,” Ms Audia said.
She then went through the call log and found the woman’s alternative number.
“She was unavailable on that line; her phone was off. After waiting for 30 minutes, it dawned on me that perhaps she had stolen my child.”
Ms Audia later reported the case to the police.
