A 56-year-old man was taken into custody in Kiminini after detectives linked him to suspected child trafficking, following a public tip that led to the rescue of a 10-year-old boy found in his company under questionable circumstances.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the suspect was intercepted at Nyamira Village after members of the public raised alarm over a man seen with a young boy who appeared to be in distress. Acting on the information, officers moved in quickly and found the man, identified as Gilbert Nyabuto, together with the minor.
According to the DCI, the suspect had allegedly been presenting himself as a senior official attached to the National Intelligence Service. He reportedly introduced himself as a “Deputy Commissioner” and showed an identification document bearing that rank alongside a service number in an attempt to appear legitimate.
Suspicion grew during the initial interaction, prompting detectives to carry out a search on the items in his possession. During the search, officers uncovered materials that raised further concern about his activities.
“Search conducted on a backpack in his possession revealed assorted academic documents belonging to different individuals, as well as blank fake Kenya Defence Forces calling letters,” the DCI said, raising further concern over his activities.
When questioned about the presence of the child, the suspect is said to have claimed that he was helping the boy secure accommodation. Both the suspect and the minor were then taken to Kiminini Police Station to allow detectives to continue with processing and investigations.
The child was later identified by his mother from the Salona area, who confirmed his identity and was reunited with him safely, bringing relief to the family after the incident.
The suspect remains in police custody as detectives continue with investigations aimed at establishing the full scope of the alleged activities, including possible charges related to impersonation, fraud, and child trafficking.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations also praised members of the public for their vigilance, noting that the timely report played a key role in both the recovery of the child and the arrest of the suspect. Authorities have urged the public to keep reporting any suspicious behavior through official channels to help prevent similar incidents.