Police have rescued a three-year-old boy who was reported missing in Malindi on February 13, 2026, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The minor was rescued at the Hororo border just as the suspect allegedly attempted to sneak him out of the country.
Detectives from Malindi, working in collaboration with counterparts in Lunga Lunga and with the support of Tanzanian authorities, arrested the suspect, a 29-year-old Ugandan national, Arnold Ethan, putting a halt to what could have been a case of human trafficking.
On the material day, the child went missing while his mother was at work.
“On that day, around 1800hrs, the child's parent, who lives in Malindi Central Area, raised the alarm after her son mysteriously vanished while she was at work,” DCI said.
Utilising forensic leads, investigators pieced together the child’s last known moments. It was revealed that the suspect, who operates a nail parlour near the boy's parents’ shop, was seen calling the boy.
The unsuspecting child followed him, unaware that danger was lurking in plain sight. From that moment, he disappeared without a trace.
“With determination and urgency, detectives launched a search to reunite the young boy with his family and apprehend the suspect,” read the DCI report.
“In collaboration with Tanzanian authorities, they managed to apprehend Arnold Ethan at the Hororo border as he attempted to flee into Tanzania.”
The boy, who was found traumatised, and the suspect were handed over to the Kenyan border police post. The suspect and child were later escorted back to Malindi.
Once safely back in Malindi, the boy was reunited with his parents and rushed to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for a medical examination.
The suspect, Ethan, is being held at Malindi Police Station awaiting arraignment.
