MERU, Kenya — Two girls reported missing from Meru County have been rescued in Kajiado County after detectives thwarted what authorities believe was a suspected cross-border child trafficking operation, leading to the arrest of three suspects.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the girls, aged 13 and 14, were rescued during an intelligence-led operation in Mashuuru, Kajiado County, moments before they were allegedly to be transported across the Kenya–Tanzania border.
According to the DCI, the two juveniles disappeared from their homes on separate occasions, prompting their families to report the incidents at Kariene Police Station. Detectives from DCI Imenti Central immediately launched investigations, tracing leads that eventually led them to a house in Moi Township, Mashuuru.
The operation was conducted jointly by detectives from DCI Imenti Central, the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), and DCI Mashuuru.
Authorities said the coordinated effort culminated in the safe rescue of the girls and the arrest of three suspects identified as Magdalene Mwikali Miya, Emmanuel Stephen Leiyan, and Deoglacious Damas, a Tanzanian national.
Police said Damas was also found to be in Kenya without valid immigration documents and remains in custody alongside the other suspects as detectives finalize investigations before presenting them in court.
“The operation didn’t just rescue the juveniles; it also led to the arrest of three suspects,” the DCI said in a statement, adding that the girls were rescued just before they were allegedly ferried across the Kenya–Tanzania border.
The rescued minors are currently undergoing medical examinations and assessments by the Children’s Officer to establish their physical and psychological well-being. Investigators are also working to determine the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and whether the case is linked to a wider trafficking network.
The DCI thanked members of the public whose information helped investigators locate the girls, describing community cooperation as critical to the success of the operation.