In July 2023, Beth Waithera, a hawker in Nairobi’s CBD, woke up early, prepared her baby, and took her to a daycare facility. Heading to the streets of Nairobi, she had no idea that she would be separated from her child for months. While hawking, County Council Officers, known as Kanjo, ambushed and arrested her, taking her to Kamukunji police station.
The next day, she appeared in a court at City Hall and received a fine of Ksh. 10,000 or a one-month jail term. Unable to pay the fine, Waithera was imprisoned for a month.
On August 8, 2023, after her release, she returned to the daycare only to learn that her baby had been handed over to the police two days earlier. Waithera began searching police stations and was eventually referred to the Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK), which had taken custody of her toddler.
To reclaim her baby, Waithera underwent a DNA test to prove her maternity. On Saturday, CWSK handed her the 2-year, 8-month-old child. Nazarina Mokugu, a coordinator at CWSK, explained that they followed up on the mother’s arrest and urged parents to ensure their children’s safety to prevent similar incidents.
