Dandora's baby-selling syndicate busted

 

When suspected child traffickers were presented in Makdara Law Court. [File, Standard]

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives are investigating three women suspected of involvement in a child-trafficking syndicate operating in Nairobi’s eastlands informal settlements.

This is after 21-year-old Flavian Ademi, the prospective buyer of a child in Dandora, blew the lid, leading to the arrest of the seller named Betty Akinyi Nyanya and broker Sara Adhiambo Oloo, and the rescue of four minors on March 15, 2026.  

The arrests followed Ademi’s attempt to expose Akinyi, 56, after she paid Sh15,000 but was denied the child until she settled the full amount.

Ademi later claimed Akinyi was selling stolen children, including a boy she alleged to have given birth to in late February. 

The three women were presented before Makadara Chief Magistrate Beatrice Kimemia through a miscellaneous application and remanded in custody pending further investigations. 

The three face charges of child trafficking contrary to Section 3 (1) read together with Section 3(5) of the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2010. 

Police Constable Faith Kirui asked the court for a 21-day custodial order to allow government analysts to collect DNA samples from the suspects and the rescued minors to determine maternity. 

“I am investigating a case of child trafficking,” Ms Kirui told the court. “The mobile phones seized from the suspects will be forwarded to the Cybercrime Unit for forensic examination to recover communication records and digital evidence.” 

Investigators also plan to record statements from independent witnesses and other persons of interest, including the alleged biological mothers of the minors, some of whom are yet to be traced. 

Preliminary investigations indicate that Akinyi, believed to operate an unnamed clinic in Dandora Phase 5, is the mastermind in the suspected syndicate. Her accomplices told detectives she is the main contact for women unable to conceive but seeking to acquire children. 

Adhiambo, aged 42, allegedly acted as the intermediary between Akinyi and prospective clients, among them Ademi, who had been struggling to conceive. 

Ademi approached Adhiambo for help, and the latter reportedly promised to link her with a “doctor.”

The matter shall be mentioned on April 7.