Two women have been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for child trafficking and child neglect.
According to Citizentv.co.ke, Isabella Wambani Walubengo alias Conspeta Mutenyo Namalwa and Margaret Kerubo Nyakoe alias Magi were found guilty of eight counts of trafficking three children.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku sentenced the two to 30 years each in two counts, three years each in three counts and two years each in other counts. She said the sentences will run concurrently.
According to the charge sheet, the two are accused that on unknown dates in 2015 at unknown place, they conspired to traffic in person two children aged one year.
They also conspired to traffic another child aged below five months in 2016.
Nyakoe is further accused that on diverse dates in May 2015 at
She is also accused of trafficking another baby aged below five months from Kapsul village in Nandi County to Nairobi County and handed the baby to her co-accused for the purpose of abuse of position of vulnerability of the said child.
Nyakoe was further found guilty of making false statements with intent to procure a birth certificate where she alleged that she was the mother of one of the children.
The two were also convicted of making a false document, namely a birth certificate, in the names of one of the child without authority.
Nyakoe was however acquitted of trafficking the fourth child aged two years who disappeared and has never been found.
In her mitigation, Walubengo through advocate Danstan Omari claimed that she was rescuing the two minors from harsh cultural beliefs.
Walubengo, who is an American citizen claimed that she was the grandmother to the children in question.
The court was told that the area chief, gave them a letter authorising the children to be rescued and taken to the US if possible but were arrested before leaving for Kuwait.
On the other side, Nyakoe pleaded for leniency saying she is a mother of two and guardian to two other children belonging to her sister.
She claimed to have been a house help when she was arrested and is the only provider for the four minors.
In her ruling, the magistrate noted the convicts’ mitigation but maintained that the court also considered that the offenses were s