Help us find abducted children, Homa Bay family pleads

Homa Bay County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe's children from left Isaiah Ogwe Junior, Risper Awino and Phoebe Akinyi who were kidnapped. [PHOTOS: JAMES OMORO/STANDARD]

Homa Bay, Kenya: The family of County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe is appealing to the police to speed up investigations into their three children's kidnapping.

The kidnappers are said to have struck in unclear circumstances on Saturday.

The minors - Phoebe Akinyi, 10, Isaiah Ogwe Junior, 7, and Risper Awino, 4, - were abducted from their home in Kogwe village in Homa Bay sub-county by unknown people.

On Monday, their mother Rose Anne Ogwe said the children were going to their grandmother's home on Saturday afternoon, and were abducted less than a kilometre away.

She said the children had been playing inside the house in her presence as was always the case but later left. At that time, she said, she was busy with household chores.

"I was inside my house with the children but they left to play outside. When I got out, I found they were not around. I then assumed they had gone to play in my co-wife's compound, about 100m away," said Rose.

STRANGE MESSAGE

Not thinking that her children could have been in danger, she left home for Marindi trading centre a few kilometres away.

Rose became worried two hours later when she received a call from her husband, inquiring about the children's whereabouts.

"My husband told me that he had received a strange message about the children. I had to stop my business and rush back home," said Rose.

The children were neither at home nor within the neighbourhood, she said. "I came to learn that the children had been spotted on their way to their grandmother's home, with Phoebe carrying Risper on her back. They never reached their destination," she added.

The family only came to realise a kidnapping had occurred after Ogwe received a text message via a Yu mobile line which read: "Within 18 hours, only Sh6m can save your three children."

Rose said the disappearance of her children had traumatised her. "It is so sad. I am asking the security officers in this country to enable us recover our children and may the clergy join us in prayer," a weeping Rose said.

Her co-wife, Linet Ogwe, expressed worry over the safety of her step-children. "I pray to God that they may be safe wherever they are," said Linet.

When The Standard visited the family, Ogwe who had reported the matter to the police was away. His wife said he was on a mission to try and get the children back.

Residents called upon security officers to save the family the agony and trace the whereabouts of the little ones.

Homa Bay OCPD Esau Ochorokodi said investigations were ongoing. "I want to appeal to any member of the public with relevant information to report to us. My officers are on the ground to ensure the children are rescued," Ochorokodi said.