A Nairobi court has sentenced a woman to six years in prison for kidnapping a six-year-old girl in the Githogoro area of Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi. The court found the accused, Pauline Kendi, guilty of abducting the minor on September 22, 2025, with the intent to confine her unlawfully.
Kendi was charged with kidnapping under Section 259 of the Penal Code and with attempted extortion by threats under Section 300(1). According to the prosecution, Kendi kidnapped the child from her neighborhood and later demanded a ransom from the mother in exchange for her release.
The court heard that on September 23, 2025, Kendi contacted the child’s mother and demanded KSh300,000, threatening to continue holding the girl hostage until the ransom was paid. She warned that the minor would only be freed once she received the full amount.
Evidence presented before the Milimani Law Courts linked Kendi directly to the abduction and ransom attempt. The prosecution proved that the accused’s actions were deliberate and aimed at extorting money from the distraught parent.
In delivering the judgment, Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina sentenced Kendi to six years in jail for kidnapping and two years for attempted extortion. The magistrate ruled that the two sentences would run concurrently since both offences arose from the same incident.
“The court finds that the prosecution has proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt. For the first offence, you are sentenced to six years, and for the second offence, two years. Both sentences will run concurrently,” ruled Magistrate Onyina.
The court emphasized the seriousness of crimes involving children and stated that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others contemplating similar offences. The ruling underscored the need to protect minors from criminal activities that threaten their safety and wellbeing.
Kendi was informed of her right to appeal the sentence within 14 days if dissatisfied with the ruling. The case highlights the growing concern over child safety in urban areas and reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of kidnapping and extortion.
