Malava: Family in agony after two children go missing without a trace

The children were kidnapped from their home on March 31, while they were under the care of their aunt.

Simon Ingutia, the children's father, said, he left the children at home with their aunt as he went to fend for his family and was called later in the day with information that they had been abducted.

The children had been living with the father after he separated from his wife. 

Ingutia said, "After the separation, it was decided that I remain with the children so that they could continue with their education. I smell a rat because despite there being insecurity in the area, I feel something is amiss as to where the children were taken."

He went on to say that he separated from his wife following her alleged joining of a religious sect which he claims made her quit her job. 

Ingutia said, "I am not aware of her (ex-wife's) whereabouts. I would like to know if she has our children and if so, does she have a means of ensuring that they continue with their education ."

According to Anna Shiratso, the aunt who was taking care of the children on the day they were kidnapped, she had left the children for a while as she attended to other matters, only to be alerted by a neighbour that two people had entered the house and left with the children.

"By the time I was rushing to the gate, I saw the two people from the back had already made their way far down the street and I was unable to reach them," she said.

A witness and boda boda rider by the name Ernest Murunga said he saw Shiratso raise an alarm, asking for help to hunt the people who had taken the children but he was unsure about what to do.

"I saw the two people walking with the children but I didn't think it was right to intervene because I don't know the situation and the children were not screaming for help. They looked like they were fine walking with the two people so I failed to act."

The family is now appealing for help to locate the children.