Two teenage girls reported missing in Meru County have been rescued in Kajiado County in a security operation that has exposed a suspected cross-border trafficking attempt. Detectives confirmed the minors were intercepted moments before they could be moved across the Kenya–Tanzania border.
The girls, aged 13 and 14, had disappeared from their homes in separate incidents, triggering concern among their families and local authorities.
The cases were initially reported at Kariene Police Station before being escalated to officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Imenti Central.
According to the DCI, investigators launched an intelligence-led operation, working jointly with the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and officers based in Mashuuru.
The multi-agency team tracked the girls to a residential house in Moi Township, Mashuuru, where the rescue mission was executed.
“Detectives trailed the missing juveniles to a house in Mashuuru just in time, moments before they were to be ferried across the border,” the DCI said in a statement, describing the operation as precise and coordinated.
Three suspects were arrested at the scene. They were identified as Magdalene Mwikali Miya, Emmanuel Stephen Leiyan, and Deoglacious Damas, a Tanzanian national who authorities say was in the country without valid immigration documents.
The suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court once processing is complete.
The rescued minors are undergoing medical examinations and psychosocial assessments under the care of a Children’s Officer, as authorities seek to establish the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and possible exploitation.
Investigators indicated that inquiries are ongoing to determine whether the case is linked to a wider trafficking network operating across the Kenya–Tanzania border.
The incident has renewed concern over child safety and cross-border crime, particularly in regions close to international boundaries.
The DCI commended members of the public for providing critical information that led to the breakthrough.
“We thank vigilant citizens whose tip-offs played a key role in the successful rescue,” the agency noted.
Authorities have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report missing persons promptly, as investigations continue.