A neighbour’s alleged betrayal has left two teenage girls counting the cost of a week-long ordeal after they were allegedly abducted from Mombasa.
Two girls aged 16 and 17 have been rescued after allegedly being held captive for a week following their abduction from Kiembeni in Mombasa County.
Preliminary findings indicate that the minors were forced into a vehicle and driven from their home area to Kiambu County, where they were allegedly locked inside a house.
One of the girls is reported to have been repeatedly sexually assaulted during the ordeal.
Police are investigating a man identified as the main suspect, who is reportedly a neighbour known to the victims and is also an aspirant for a Member of County Assembly seat.
The victims told authorities that they were allegedly threatened with harm, including threats against their parents, if they disclosed details of what had happened.
The case has renewed concerns over the safety of children in Mombasa. According to human rights watchdog She Rises, seven cases involving minors were documented in the county in August alone.
Human rights organisations are urging members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abduction, abuse or exploitation to the relevant authorities.
