NAKURU, Kenya — Detectives have launched a manhunt for a suspect wanted in connection with the disappearance of a four-year-old child in Nakuru County, as investigations intensify into what authorities describe as a disturbing case involving an alleged ransom demand.
In a public appeal issued on Sunday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the child was reported missing at Mwariki Police Station on June 11, 2026. As relatives searched for the missing minor, the suspect allegedly contacted the family and attempted to negotiate a ransom payment.
The case was taken over by detectives from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), working alongside officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and Mwariki Police Station.
According to the DCI, intelligence-led investigations traced the suspect to a rental property in the Quarry area of Rongai, Nakuru County. However, the operation did not result in an arrest after the suspect allegedly detected the presence of detectives and fled into nearby informal settlements.
“Upon noticing the detectives closing in on him, the suspect fled into nearby slums and has since remained at large,” the agency said.
A subsequent search of the room where the suspect had reportedly spent the night yielded several items of investigative interest. Detectives recovered a mobile phone, personal belongings and a mother-and-child clinic booklet bearing the details of another minor from Nakuru County.
The discovery has raised fresh concerns among investigators, who are now seeking to establish whether the suspect may be linked to other cases involving children in the region.
The DCI has not disclosed the identity of the suspect or the missing child, citing ongoing investigations and the need to protect the welfare of minors involved in the case.
The latest case comes amid heightened efforts by security agencies to combat child trafficking, abductions, and crimes targeting minors. The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit has in recent years expanded intelligence-led operations aimed at rescuing vulnerable children and dismantling criminal networks involved in exploitation.
The DCI has appealed to members of the public to assist investigators with any information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest or help establish his whereabouts.
Anyone with relevant information has been urged to report to the nearest police station or share information anonymously through the DCI’s reporting channels, including the toll-free number 0800 722 203, WhatsApp line 0709 570 000, or the #FichuaKwaDCI platform.
Investigations are ongoing as detectives work to locate both the suspect and the missing child.
