Over joyed Maureen Gesare holds her one-year-old baby at their home in Rhonda Estate, Nakuru County on January 11, 2025.
After three months of agony, a Nakuru woman has been re-united with her nine-month-old baby who went missing after she was stolen by a stranger.
The stranger lured four children who were in the company of Baby Maya Kerubo with soda and French fries before sneaking away with her.
Ninety days later, the family can now breathe a sigh of relief after Baby Maya was found in the custody of the woman who was captured on CCTV stealing the baby from Kwa Rhonda in Nakuru West constituency.
Maureen Gesare with her one-year-old baby at their home in Rhonda Estate, Nakuru County on January 11, 2025.
The baby was found safe under the custody of the woman at a residential area in Maili Kumi, Bahati Constituency, and the suspected was arrested by police.
According to the baby's grandmother Lilian Moraa, on January 8, 2025, she received a phone call from an unknown person asking her about her grand-daughter who had been missing for the past three months.
The woman on the call asked her when Baby Maya went missing and if she had been found.
"She went on to ask the baby’s description and her age. I later learned that the caller was the landlady of the residential houses where the woman who stole the baby lives in Maili Kumi, Bahati sub-County," Ms Moraa told Nation.Africa on Sunday.
She said the caller further told her that the woman was married and that for the time she lived in her rented house, she had not been seen with a child till October last year, when she was seen with one.
Lilian Moraa holds her now one-year-old granddaughter who was stolen in October 2024.
“I just entertained her not knowing what she was up to. She asked me to send her a photo which I did, and surprisingly she did send me a photo of my grand-daughter being held by the woman. After she confirmed she was mine, we agreed that she would alert police officers since she was living near the suspect's house,” Moraa narrated.
Ms Moraa said that she also informed the officer who was handling the missing-person case at the Rhonda Police Station and the suspect was arrested and taken to Kaptembwa Police Station.
She proceeded to Nakuru Nursing home where her daughter had initially given birth to Baby Maya and was given a letter to back up her story.
While at the hospital, the officer asked her to present herself to officers at the Kaptembwa Police Station, with her daughter Maureen Gesare to identify their missing child.
At the station, she was asked to describe Baby Maya and if she had any visible birthmark she would identify her with. She had birthmark on her back.
Maureen Gesare with her one-year-old baby at their home in Rhonda Estate, Nakuru County on January 11, 2025.
“I was armed with documents, which were confirmed to be those of my granddaughter. She was taken to hospital to confirm if she was okay and after that she was handed over to us ending a three-month search. The journey has not been easy, we thank the Lord, the media has been helpful,” she said.
The suspect told the police that she had stayed in a marriage for many years without a child and she therefore decided to steal one to please her husband who really wanted a baby.
She said she first lied to her husband that she was expectant before she brought the baby home. The husband, who was away, did not doubt when he came back home.
Maya’s mother Maureen Gesare, who could not hide her joy after re-uniting with her first born child, said that her disappearance had left them depressed for three months.
She said that Maya turned one year on January 8, and despite her disappearance they celebrated her birthday and conducted prayers for her safety.
Coincidentally, her mother received a phone call the same day, and a day later they were reunited.
For the three months she was missing, Ms Gesare said that she barely slept at night and the sight of Maya’s clothes kept bringing back memories of her child.
At some point, she gave up and left everything to God but luckily her mother kept on searching for her and visiting Rhonda Police Station to einquire if they had solved her disappearance.
“The three months were not easy for me, some neighbours had started spreading news that I sold my child. I could hear her screams from my sleep but now that has ended. I am so happy that we reunited. I will never leave her unattended,” she said.
