By Andrew Kariuki |
A Nairobi woman has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of kidnapping a six-year-old girl and attempting to extort 300,000 shillings from her mother.
Pauline Kendi was convicted by the Milimani Law Courts on two counts, kidnapping with intent to confine and attempted extortion, with the sentences set to run concurrently.
The court ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that she kidnapped the minor, identified as V.W., and tried to ransom her to the family.
According to court records, the incident occurred on September 22, 2025, in the Githogoro area of Westlands, Nairobi. Kendi lured the girl away from her home before contacting the child’s mother, Rose Kanpira, and demanding payment in exchange for the girl’s release.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions through the DCI Gigiri office, presented testimony from Kanpira and investigating officers. They told the court that Kendi issued threats, warning that the child would be harmed if the ransom was not paid.
In her judgment, the magistrate described Kendi’s actions as “calculated, malicious and traumatizing to both the child and her family.” The court found that her conduct demonstrated clear intent to commit the crime and cause distress to the victims.
Kendi was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with no option of appeal within 14 days. The verdict brings closure to a case that shocked residents of Westlands and underscored the growing concern over child safety in urban neighbourhoods.
