BY SAM ALFAN.
A 23 year old woman who stole a baby in church has been charged and released.
Mercy Akinyi Otieno is accused of kidnapping the one and a half year old baby during a service at city based Church.
She was also charged for deceitfully taking away baby during the service held at Jesus Teaching Ministry along Haile Selasie Avenue in Nairobi on January 31, 2017.
The court heard that Akinyi took away the baby with intent to deprive the mother Jeridah Oundo Shitanda lawful care of the child.
Akinyi denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
The prosecution had objected her release on grounds that she is likely to interfere with the witnesses because they normally attend the same church with the baby’s parents.
She was released on a bond of Sh 500,000 with two sureties of a similar amount without an alternative cash bail.
Oundo is said to have attended church service with her husband Peter Wanjala and their little child.
She later went to an upper floor to change her wet child when she met the accused seated.
Akinyi allegedly told Oundo that the service was boring and that is the reason as to why she was seated outside.
It is said that they became friends since they hail from Khayega in Kakamega and they began communicating in their own language.
It is alleged that after Oundo realized that they come from the same village, she gave her the child to hold as she proceeded upstairs to purchase some drinking water and upon return she found the lady with the child.
Oundo is said to have left the child with Akinyi for a second time and went upstairs to pick her handbag but upon return this time round, Akinyi had disappeared.
It is alleged that the matter was reported at DCI Kamukunji on January 1, 2017 and investigations launched.
The accused was traced and arrested within Ongata Rongai.
The prosecution claims that the accused was found with the child during arrest. The child was taken for safe care custody.
Proceedings resume February 27, 2017.
