It’s now been a week since the 23-year old Italian woman, Silvia Constanca Romano was abducted from her house at night in an attack at Chakama trading center in Malindi, Kilifi County.
All hope is not lost as reports now indicate that Ms. Silvia Romano is still alive.
Sources from Italian media say that there could be secret negotiations initiated by the the Italian government to secure her release as the kidnappers are apparently planning to demand a ransom. However, the Italian government has not confirmed any such negotiations.
An Italian Journalist, Raffaella Scuderi, who works for La Republica newspaper said that Italy’s Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs Matteo Salvini addressed the nation on Sunday and said that they were happy to hear good news about Romano.
The journalist who spoke in Malindi said the Vice President confirmed that Romano was alive adding that there are continued investigations to track the kidnappers.
“We believe there is a deal going on since they intercepted the calls between one of the kidnappers and the wife,’’ she said.
Additionally, Italy’s Rai TV yesterday showed pictures of plaited hair found in Dakatcha woodland forest which was identified by the woman who last plaited Ms. Romano.
Silvia is an Italian aid worker with Milele Onlus, a non-governmental organisation whose mission is to raise literacy and education levels especially among orphans. Silvia Romano was serving as a Corporate Affairs Officer in Chakama.
She was kidnapped when gunmen raided the Chakama area on Tuesday night and opened fire at the residents. Despite claims of her being alive, authorities now fear that Romano may be sold to Al Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.
Journalist Scuderi also revealed that there are special forces from Italy ROS popularly called Carabienieri who are tracking Romano.
Police are now exploring Tana River and Lamu counties where kidnappers are believed to be holding the Italian worker while the military, police and KWS with special forces are in Boni forest pursuing the suspects. It is believed that security personnel are using drones to hunt down the attackers.
Last week on Friday, police named three suspects, Ibrahim Adan Omar, Yususf Kuno Adan, and Said Adan Abdi who believed to have abducted and issued a one million Kenya shillings bounty on anyone who would provide police with the whereabouts of the abductors.
The wife to one of the suspects was arrested and grilled by detectives after police discovered that she was in communication with her husband.
Preliminary reports said that Ms. Romano was abducted by Al Shabaab militants but it was later confirmed that it was orchestrated by local herders.
Do you think the government will be able to trace the whereabouts of the Italian aid worker?