The gift of having a baby has turned to regret for a couple in Homa Bay county. This is after a middle-aged woman stole their two-week old baby boy on Tuesday morning. Benta Akinyi, 21, and her husband Austine Odhiambo, 27, hope to find first-born son before it's too late.

The couple, who hail from Masakla village, Kanyach Kachar location in Homa Bay sub-county, are yet to deal with the blow of losing their only child.

The suspect is the woman Akinyi had only got acquinted with for two weeks. She met her at St Lawrence Hospital, near Rodi Kopany township, where she had gone to deliver the child. It is here that they exchanged phone contacts and the woman introduced herself as Mammy but she never gave her other names.

The worrying incident happened on Tuesday morning when Mammy called Akinyi to deliver a gift to the baby. The two women discussed the day's programme and agreed to meet near Legio Maria Church in Rodi Kopany township. When Akinyi arrived at the agreed venue, Mammy waiting but she asked them to wait for the bearer of the gift but.

In the meantime, Akinyi opted to go to a salon in the company of Mammy who suggested that she takes the child outside to being affected by smoke and heat from the hair dryer.

Oblivious of Mammy’s scheme, Akinyi handed over the child and when she was done straightening her hair, Akinyi walked out of the salon but could not find Mammy and the baby. She dialed her mobile number but it had been switched off.

She dashed to the Legio Maria Church, where they had first met, to look for her but was  unsuccessful.
Akinyi and her husband recorded a statement at Rodi Police Station.

Speaking to The Nairobian, the couple appealed to the government and residents to help them trace their child.

“It is very painful for someone to steal my child. Anyone who sees someone with a young child, who is not theirs, please report to security officers,” Akinyi said.

Odhiambo said the incident has traumatised his family.
“My family is inconsolable due to the theft. I appeal to police to help us get Mammy so that she can tell us where our son is,” Odhiambo said.

Homa Bay Sub-county Deputy Police Commander James Mugo said investigations into the incident are on going.
“Our colleagues from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) are handling the matter,” Mugo said.