Police officers have launched a manhunt for a woman who is said to have stolen an 8 weeks old baby outside Coast Provincial General Hospital on Tuesday, July 17.
The woman identified as Miriam, allegedly tricked the infant’s mother, Fatuma Yahya, before getting away with her son.
“Fatuma was duped by Miriam to take clothes to a purported kin inside the hospital in exchange for Sh2,000,” said Mombasa county police commander Johnston Ipara.
“The woman asked to remain with my son Shebe and I agreed. When I returned she was not there and the baby was also missing,” said Fatuma.
The mother admitted to have interacted with the suspect for about an hour atatthe the ‘Makadara’ hospital.
The two had even exchanged phone numbers. However the phone was switched off when she tried to contact the lady.
"The kidnapper was accompanied by two men who claimed to be visiting a relative who had just undergone an operation," said Fatuma.
Ipara cautioned Mombasa residents to be on the watch out for child traffickers.
"We believe that we will soon get the child. We are working with police at the border and all over the Coast region,” Ipara said.