Kenyan authorities in Mombasa County have nabbed a 23-year-old Tanzanian national who was making a killing by begging money from unsuspecting Kenyans by posing as a disabled mother in the streets.
According to Ibrahim Basafar, the County inspectorate Deputy Director in charge of operations, his officers acted on a tip off from members of the public who reported a suspicious group of foreigners plying in that ‘trade’ in Momabasa.
After investigations, the officers launched an operation where they nabbed the 23-year-old pretending to be a disabled mother.
However, what shocked the detectives more was the discovery that the children caught with the Tanzanian national were not her own children but those ‘rented’ from Kenyan parents.
“Our officers have been investigating this syndicate of con artists from Tanzania. We even have a court case against one suspect who traffics them to Mombasa,” Basafar said.
Addressing the media, the County Officer reported that the con woman makes about Ksh 20,000 (over K140,000) to Ksh 15,000 a day and pays the mother to the child Ksh 3,000 (k22, 000).
In a statement of reproach, Basafar warned parents against renting their children adding that they subject the minors to harsh conditions.
“The sunlight is harsh, there is dirt and sometimes they are even rained on. These children are 10, 12 and 15yr olds.”
The County Official further urged well wishers to spend money on genuinely needy and urgent cases than beggars most of whom are out to con them of their hard earned money.
“We have people at Coast General Hospital who can’t afford medication. They are in pain. These are the people we need to help and not these con men,” Basafar noted.
The suspect appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Rita Amwai and was charged with two accounts of obtaining money by false pretense and another of being in the country illegaly.
She plead guilty to both counts and was sentenced to 1yr in prison for the charge of obtaining money by false pretense or part with a fine of Ksh50,000 (over K370,000).
On the second count of being in Kenya illegaly, Judge Amwai gave repatriation orders after fulfillment of the first judgement.
