Couple's agony as house help goes missing with baby

Kennedy and Ruth Simiyu. They are appealing for help after their 6-month-old baby and house help vanished. [Samson Wire, Standard]

It was a sad Christmas Day for a couple in Kwa Reuben, Embakasi South, Nairobi after their baby went missing.

On December 23, 2023, the family of Kennedy Simiyu, 51, was in shock after their 6-month-old baby and the house help vanished.

When The Standard caught up with Simiyu and his wife Ruth at their house, they were still in disbelief at the turn of events.

The couple said the house help identified only identified as 'Maurine' had only spent three days in their house.

"On December 23 in the morning, my wife left to purchase milk only to return and find the lady and the baby missing," a disturbed Simiyu narrated.

"The lady approached me on December 19 and identified herself as 'Maurine' and was looking for a job, since I run a grocery shop I accepted her request," Ruth said.

She said they had agreed with the lady that she will be doing house chores and assisting in the shop where she used to spend the nights after close of business.

"On the fateful morning, I left for the shop but found my son and the house help missing. My husband who had stepped out to run errands was equally shocked when I called to inform him about our baby's disappearance," she said.

Kennedy and Ruth Simiyu. [Samson Wire, Standard]

The matter was booked at Reuben police station under OB number 27/22/12/23 as a case of missing child.

"Kennedy Simiyu, a resident of Reuben reported that his wife left her son, namely Peter Simiyu who is 6 months old, with a friend in their house," the police statement reads in part.

"She went to the shop to buy milk and upon coming back she found the said friend and the child missing. Efforts to trace the said Maureen and the baby have proved futile."

The couple says 'Maurine' did not have a mobile phone or any identification and they offered her the job out of goodwill.

Nyumba Kumi chairman Joseph Kipngame cautioned residents to do proper background checks on strangers before entrusting them with children.

"Families should do a background check of people they want to hire as this will prevent or reduce cases of child theft and other cases," he said.

The couple appealed to the public to report to the police if they spot the house help and the missing child.