MALINDI, Kenya — A three-year-old boy reported missing in Malindi on February 13, 2026, has been rescued at the Hororo border as a suspect allegedly attempted to sneak him out of the country.
In a statement posted on X, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said detectives from Malindi, working with counterparts in Lunga Lunga and with support from Tanzanian authorities, arrested a 29-year-old Ugandan national identified as Arnold Ethan.
The agency said the child’s parent, who lives in the Malindi Central area, raised the alarm at about 6:00 pm after her son disappeared while she was at work.
According to investigators, forensic leads helped reconstruct the boy’s last known movements. Detectives established that the suspect, who operates a nail parlour near the child’s parents’ shop, was seen calling the boy shortly before he vanished.
“Innocent and unsuspecting, the child followed him, unaware that danger was lurking in plain sight,” the DCI said.
A coordinated search was launched, culminating in the suspect’s arrest at the Hororo border as he allegedly attempted to cross into Tanzania. The boy, described as traumatised, and the suspect were handed over to Kenyan border police officers before being escorted back to Malindi.
The child was reunited with his parents and taken to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical examination.
The suspect is being held at Malindi Police Station and is expected to be arraigned after processing. Authorities have not disclosed the specific charges he will face.
The case highlights the role of cross-border cooperation in tackling crimes involving minors and underscores the importance of swift reporting in missing person cases.
The DCI urged members of the public to report suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp at 0709 570 000.
