Detectives with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kisauni have arrested a key suspect and rescued two teenage girls who had been reported missing from Mombasa. According to police, the two students disappeared on August 25, 2026, after being sent from their homes to buy milk and bread a day before they were scheduled to return to their respective boarding schools. Their parents, who are close friends, reported them missing at the Kiembeni Police Station on August 26, 2026, after they failed to return.
DCI Rescues Two Minors and Arrests Suspect in Kisauni Abduction Case
Investigators pursued financial and other leads that linked a 59-year-old suspect, identified in reports as Caleb Okumu Ngwena, to the disappearance. Police established that money had been sent from a mobile money account registered to the suspect to a number belonging to one of the girls’ mothers, which investigators said was being utilized by the minors. Following his arrest at his Kisauni home, the suspect told authorities he had met one of the girls in Bamburi after being contacted by a former campaign associate known as Jared, who later requested financial assistance for errands in Kilifi and shared the mobile number used to send funds.
Captivity, Threats, and Release in Kiambu County
According to Kisauni detectives, the preliminary investigation established that the minors were abducted on August 25, 2026, at Sensera in Kiembeni by the primary suspect and an accomplice who remains at large. The perpetrators allegedly forced the teenagers to remove their SIM cards and cut off communication with their families before transporting them to Kiambu County, where they were confined in an empty room.
During their captivity, the victims were subjected to threats, with the suspects warning they would be killed if they disclosed what happened, and instructed to delete messages from their phones. Investigators stated that one of the minors was sexually assaulted on the night of August 26. The main suspect allegedly visited the location regularly to bring them food and milk.
The teenagers remained confined until August 29, when they were released and given Sh10,000. They subsequently obtained accommodation at an Airbnb facility until the money ran out on September 3. At that point, they sought shelter at a friend’s home. Following up on investigative leads, DCI detectives from Kisauni travelled to Nairobi on September 3 and successfully recovered the two girls at the friend’s residence.
Court Appearance and Ongoing Investigation
The arrested suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 7, 2026, where he is expected to face charges including defilement, kidnapping, and child trafficking. Authorities emphasize that the charges are allegations and the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Meanwhile, the second suspect remains at large, and detectives are continuing to record statements from the victims and other witnesses while actively pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the accomplice.
Public Safety and Reporting Channels
The incident has drawn attention to broader concerns regarding child safety and missing minors in Kenya. In the wake of the rescue, the DCI issued a strong condemnation of crimes against children. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reminds the public that kidnapping, defilement and child trafficking are grave offences that rob children of their innocence, safety and future,
the agency said in a statement reported by Kahawatungu.
The DCI urged members of the public to report any information relating to child trafficking, exploitation, or abuse through its toll-free hotline at 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp at 0709 570 000.
