“It’s just a matter of survival: food, shelter and clothing,” those were the words of a teenager arrested in Nakuru as she attempted to sell her one-month-old baby.
Risper Kimuma, 19, said the baby was an extra burden that she decided to dispose of at Sh12,000.
“I am an orphan. I live with my sister, and with my baby, we were a burden. I wanted to end my problems,” she said as police led her to a cell at Nakuru Central Police Station.
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Ms Kimuma was arrested yesterday at around 11am at Keptembwa estate, as she received the money as payment for the baby from an officer posing as an interested buyer.
According to Nakuru Deputy Police Commander Mathews Gwiyo, police received a tip off from a resident in the estate and laid a trap for the teenager. “We got wind of a woman who was looking for a customer to buy her baby boy,” he said.
Mr Gwiyo said Constable Beth Kamande accompanied the informer to Kimuma’s house and told the young mother she would buy the infant.
“They made arrangements to pick the baby later after payment. And that is when we arrested her,” he said.
According to Victor Osano, a resident of the estate, Kimuma approached him and told him she wanted to sell her baby. She asked him to find her a customer.
Made a deal
“I informed a friend who came and talked to her. We made a deal to sell him the baby for Sh12,000,” he said.
Osano and his friend informed the police who arrested her as she received the fake Sh12,000 notes from the officer.
The young mother, who showed no remorse for her action, told the Press she had resolved to sell her baby because she could not take care of him due to her poverty.
Gwiyo said she would face charges of child trafficking today.
THE STANDARD
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