Nakuru woman jailed for two years for stealing baby
Millicent Wambui before Senior Resident Magistrate Priscah Nyotah on February 12, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Millicent Wambui on Wednesday told a Nakuru court that she stole the baby belonging to Ms Maureen Gesare to dupe her husband that she had conceived and even given birth.
- The court heard that she had stayed in a marriage for many years without a child and therefore she decided to steal one to please her husband who really wanted a baby.
A Nakuru woman who admitted to stealing a nine-month-old baby to please her husband has been jailed for two years.
Millicent Wambui on Wednesday told a Nakuru court that she stole the baby belonging to Ms Maureen Gesare to dupe her husband that she had conceived and even given birth.
The court heard that she had stayed in a marriage for many years without a child and therefore she decided to steal one to please her husband who really wanted a baby.
"I had no intention to steal a baby, but l had to do so to please my husband. l first lied to him that l was expectant before l took the baby home," Wambui told the court.
The court further heard that the husband who lives away from their Bahati home, believed her and did not doubt when she took the baby home.
He learned about the ordeal when she was arrested early last month. Wambui committed the offence in October 2024.
When she was arraigned, she pleaded guilty to the charges of kidnapping and stealing a baby.
Nakuru Senior Resident Magistrate Priscah Nyotah found her guilty of stealing the baby contrary to section 174(1)(a) of the Penal Code.
"From the presentation and evidence brought to court and the accused's admission, there is enough proof that the accused stole the baby. The court hereby sentences her for two years to deter other would-be offenders," said Nyotah.
While issuing the sentence, Nyotah cited a probation officer’s report that was submitted before court, that Wambui was not remorseful for her act and would repeat the same act, if released or allowed to serve on probation.
“You went took the baby and lived with the baby without returning the baby to the mother. The probation officer’s report was not favorable to you. You will serve two years in prison as a lesson to others like you,” further read the sentence.
Nyotah also warned her against involving in similar incidents of kidnapping or stealing babies as she would be risking even stiffer penalties in the future.