Grief has engulfed Kibiku village in Kajiado West after the body of a three-year-old boy was discovered in a seasonal river days after he was reported missing.
Police are now holding the child’s stepfather as the main suspect.
Residents said the disappearance raised alarm when CCTV footage allegedly captured the man walking with the child along Maragara Road.
That was the last time the boy was seen alive. When questioned by members of the public, the man claimed he had received a call from work and told the boy to walk back home.
His response angered locals who accused him of lying, forcing police to step in and protect him from mob justice.
Neighbors revealed that the suspect had a troubled relationship with the child.
Despite being married to the boy’s mother and having a child together, he often complained about raising her first-born son.
The mother, still in shock, admitted that her husband had repeatedly urged her to take the boy back to his biological father.
The tragic case has sparked heated conversations in the community.
One resident described the relationship as abusive, saying the woman often returned home with bruises.
“If a man tells you he does not want your child, that is a clear sign you should leave,” she warned. “A child’s life is far more valuable than staying in a toxic marriage.”
Others stressed that blended families must be built on love and respect.
A Ngong resident urged men not to mistreat children who are not their own.
“If you cannot carry the responsibility, walk away from the relationship. Do not punish the child,” he said.
Online, Kenyans expressed anger and disbelief. Many argued that it was careless for the suspect to claim he sent a three-year-old home alone.
“No parent can believe such an excuse,” one user wrote. Another said the tragedy should remind women to prioritize their children over unstable marriages.
Police have assured the public that investigations are underway and justice will be pursued.
