Police in Siaya County have arrested seven Congolese women linked to child trafficking.
Confirming the arrest of the women, Area county commissioner Josephine Onunga said the suspects were smoked out of their hideouts with 12 children at Sinaga area in Gem sub-county.
The suspects, who were found holding hostage children aged between one month and 10 years, are said to be in the country illegally.
The county commissioner said the suspects were traced to a house owned by a woman who runs a hotel at the Sinaga Market.
She also said the officers are investigating the woman to determine whether she has a hand in the child trafficking claims.
"We are also investigating if the host is part of the suspected child trafficking syndicate," Onunga said, as quoted by the Star.
The arrest came after area police officers were tipped off by members of the public.
Sources indicate that the women do not speak either speak English nor Kiswahili.
The seven suspects and the children are currently being held at the Yala Police station pending investigations.
The suspects do not have any documents of identification as per police reports and they will be taken to court on Monday.