Kenya police unearth child trafficking syndicate

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Kenyan police on Wednesday said they unearthed a child trafficking syndicate, and arrested three medical officers involved in the offence.

"During an operation by police to unearth the organized crime, police officers noted with a lot of concern that local public hospitals and children's homes within Nairobi are involved," Inspector General Hilary Mutyambai said in a statement.

Senior medical officers are working in collusion with child smugglers, he said, adding that those arrested will be prosecuted.

Mutyambai also directed local police to closely work with the authorities concerned to investigate on matters concerning child trafficking within their areas of jurisdiction, "especially in public and private hospitals, and children’s homes."

This comes following a BBC Africa Eye investigation that revealed children are stolen from hospitals, clinics and homeless mothers, and sold for as little as $400.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection condemned the buying and selling of babies, vowing to "deal with it decisively."