Convicted Woman Receives Five-Year Sentence for Child Theft

 Principal Magistrate Joy Wesonga of Homa Bay remarked that Atieno's actions were characterized by mischief.

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Agnes Atieno Onyango, 26, sentenced to five years for stealing a one-year-old boy in Homa Bay town.

• Found guilty under section 174 (1) (a) of the Penal Code for the August 2, 2023, incident.

• Atieno, a house help, took the baby when the mother was at work, attempting to cross the border to Tanzania.

• Court determined Atieno acted mischievously, taking the sleeping baby without parental approval.

• Atieno claimed she intended to take the child home for medicine, citing her role as the sole breadwinner for her family.

• Despite the plea, Homa Bay court sentenced her to five years, considering the rising cases of child theft.

• The sentencing starts from the day of her arrest, with a 14-day window for appeal.

• The boy's father, Abdul Aziz, supports the court's decision, viewing it as a deterrent to potential child thieves.

Agnes Anyango with a police at Homa Bay court

A 26-year-old woman, identified as Agnes Atieno Onyango, also known as Aisha, has been handed a five-year prison sentence after being found guilty of kidnapping a one-year-old boy in Homa Bay town.

The court, citing a violation of section 174 (1) (a) of the Penal Code, determined that on August 2, 2023, Atieno, who was entrusted with caring for the child while his mother was away, committed the act in Shauri Yako estate in Homa Bay town.

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Atieno attempted to flee to Tanzania with the baby. The court was informed that she, a house help, seized the opportunity when the child's mother left for work in Homa Bay town, acting without parental consent. 

She quietly took the sleeping baby, gathered her belongings, and left the residence without informing anyone.

Principal Magistrate Joy Wesonga of Homa Bay characterized Atieno's actions as mischievous and stated that there was ample evidence indicating her guilt. 

Despite being granted an opportunity to defend herself before sentencing, Atieno insisted that she had no intention of stealing the child, asserting that she was taking him home to administer medicine.

In mitigation, Atieno, who claimed to be the sole breadwinner for her family, argued that she had worked as a house help for 15 years in various parts of the country without any prior criminal accusations. 

However, Wesonga emphasized the increasing cases of child theft and recommended a minimum seven-year sentence for such offenses.

After considering Atieno's plea, the court sentenced her to five years in jail, with the term beginning from the day of her arrest. 

She was granted a 14-day window to appeal the verdict. The boy's father, Abdul Aziz, expressed support for the court's decision, stating that it would serve as a deterrent to those with similar intentions.