Langas Community Grappled by Disappearances of Over 30 Children
Langas residents in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, are living in fear as more than 30 children under the age of 8 have vanished in the past two months. The string of disappearances has sparked worries of child trafficking, leaving parents, especially mothers, in a constant state of anxiety.
Jennifer Achieng’s story captures the heartbreak felt by many families. “They were playing outside the gate with other children,” Achieng recounted of her 1 year and 7-month-old daughter, Joyline Mali, who disappeared on January 4th, 2024. “When I went to get her for tea, the other children said they couldn’t find her. We searched everywhere with neighbors’ help, but nobody knew where she went. The children playing with her said a woman came and took her away, but they don’t know where the woman went.”
Another family in Langas’ Thekatheka area reported their 9-year-old granddaughter missing on February 24th, 2024, around 6:00 PM. “She was studying in Solasa,” said Josphine Mwihaki, the grandmother. “But the day she went missing on Saturday, they had not gone to school.”
Both affected families and human rights groups have criticized the police response, accusing them of failing to adequately address the disappearances. “They take it so lightly,” said Benson Juma, a human rights activist. “Over 30 children missing without a trace – it’s not an easy issue.”
However, Kapseret subcounty deputy police commander Sarah Chumo offered a different perspective. She claims that at least four missing children were due to parental negligence, particularly among single mothers or those involved in consuming illicit brews.
Vipasho News has established ,Schools within Kapseret sub-county have implemented new measures requiring parents and guardians to sign a document when dropping off or picking up their children.
The disappearances have sparked outrage, fear, and finger-pointing. As the investigation unfolds, the Langas community desperately waits for answers and, more importantly, the safe return of their children.
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