A three-year-old boy who was reported missing in Malindi on February 13, 2026, was rescued at the Hororo border, Kwale County as a suspect allegedly attempted to sneak him out of the country.
Detectives from Malindi, working jointly with officers from Lunga Lunga and with support from Tanzanian authorities, arrested a 29-year-old Ugandan national identified as Arnold Ethan at the eleventh hour, averting what police described as a potentially tragic outcome.
According to police reports, the child’s parent, who resides in the Malindi Central area, raised the alarm at around 6:00 p.m. after discovering her son had disappeared while she was at work.
Investigators immediately launched a search operation. Using forensic leads and witness accounts, detectives reconstructed the child’s last known movements.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect, who operates a nail parlour near the boy’s parents’ shop, was seen calling the child shortly before he vanished.
The unsuspecting minor reportedly followed him and was not seen again.
Through coordinated efforts and intelligence sharing, officers tracked the suspect to the Hororo border, where he was intercepted while allegedly attempting to cross into Tanzania with the child.
Both the suspect and the minor were handed over to Kenyan border authorities before being escorted back to Malindi.
Upon arrival, the traumatised child was reunited with his relieved parents and taken to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical examination.
The suspect is currently being held at Malindi Police Station, where he is undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.
Authorities have commended the swift collaboration between Kenyan and Tanzanian security agencies, which led to the successful rescue and arrest.
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