Eldoret Court Orders Arrest of Suspect in Cross-Border Child Exploitation Case
“The police officers should expedite the arrest of the Somalia woman and present her in my court on April 16 to face child exploitation charges,” Magistrate Cherono
Senior Principal Magistrate Kesse Cherono delivers a ruling at the Eldoret Law Courts, directing police to expedite the arrest of a suspect in a cross-border child exploitation case and ensure her appearance in court on April 16, 2026.
By James Gitaka |
An Eldoret court has issued a warrant of arrest against a Somali national accused of cross-border child exploitation and ill-treatment, directing police to produce her in court without fail on April 16, 2026.
The suspect, Ayan Mohammed Afra, failed to appear before Senior Principal Magistrate Kesse Cherono, prompting the court to take decisive action. Afra is facing charges related to the unlawful movement of a minor from Somalia into Kenya and subjecting her to prolonged maltreatment.
According to court proceedings, Afra allegedly subjected the 13-year-old to physical harm using a chapati roller, causing injuries and suffering. The court heard that the suspect had earlier been released on a KSh 20,000 police bond at Eldoret Central Police Station but later absconded and failed to honor bail terms.
“The police officers should expedite the arrest of the Somalia woman and present her in my court on April 16 to face child exploitation charges,” Magistrate Cherono directed.
During the hearing, an investigating officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that the suspect remains at large. The court was also informed that Afra’s residence in Mwanzo Estate, on the outskirts of Eldoret town, has been deserted since she violated bond conditions and disappeared from her known residence.
Diana Komen, Assistant Director of Children Services in Turbo Sub-County, testified that the minor had endured months of ill-treatment after being brought into the country.
“The victim, aged 13, was facilitated to cross the Kenya-Somalia border by Ayan Mohammed Afra, who then placed her in domestic service under harsh and exploitative conditions at her Mwanzo residence,” Komen told the court.
The case came to light after the minor confided in a neighbour about the physical harm and inhumane treatment she had experienced since last year. The neighbour, identified as Fatuman Mohammed, reported the matter to police, leading to Afra’s arrest before she was later released on bond.
Mohammed has since taken in the child, providing her with shelter and care after removing her from harm.
In her ruling, Magistrate Cherono ordered that the minor be taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for medical attention and directed that she be enrolled in a madrasa school pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“I direct that the minor be hosted by Fatuman Mohammed, who assisted her to safety from the harmful domestic setting, and that she continues to provide for her upkeep and basic needs in the interim,” the magistrate ruled.
Authorities have intensified efforts to trace and arrest the suspect as the case highlights ongoing concerns over cross-border child exploitation and the vulnerability of minors in domestic service.
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