DCI rescues 3-year-old baby from abductor
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed the freedom of a 3-year-old baby who had been reported missing in Malindi.
In a statement on X on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the DCI confirmed that a person of interest had also been apprehended and would be arraigned in court.
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The child was reported missing on February 13, 2026, after mysteriously disappearing from Malindi Central Area while his mother was at work.
According to investigators, the alarm was raised at around 6:00 pm, prompting detectives to immediately launch a search operation.
DCI stated that detectives from Malindi worked closely with their counterparts in Lunga Lunga, with support from Tanzanian authorities, to track down the minor.
“A three-year-old boy who was reported missing in Malindi on February 13, 2026, has been rescued at the Hororo border, just as the suspect allegedly attempted to sneak him out of the country,” the statement read.
Investigations revealed that the suspect, a 29-year-old Ugandan national identified as Arnold Ethan, operates a nail parlour near the child’s parents’ shop.
Detectives established that he was seen calling the boy shortly before the disappearance.
“Innocent and unsuspecting, the child followed him, unaware that danger was lurking in plain sight. From that moment, he disappeared without a trace,” DCI added.
Hororo border
Using forensic leads and intelligence sharing, detectives traced the suspect to the Hororo border as he allegedly attempted to flee into Tanzania.
“Detectives from Malindi, working hand in hand with their counterparts in Lunga Lunga and with the support of Tanzanian authorities, pounced on the suspect at the eleventh hour, cutting short what could have been a tragic tale,” the agency stated.
The boy, who was found traumatised, and the suspect were handed over to the Kenyan border police before being escorted back to Malindi.
Upon arrival, the child was joyfully reunited with his parents and rushed to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical examination.
The suspect is currently being held at Malindi Police Station while undergoing processing ahead of his court appearance.
DCI reiterated its commitment to child protection and urged parents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity promptly.
