A family from Nyamuoso village in Ugunja sub-county was rescued by police after an angry crowd of villagers stormed their home, demanding the release of a missing 3-year-old girl who had disappeared six days earlier.
The missing girl, Candice Aurelia, vanished under mysterious circumstances on September 10, 2024, after reportedly visiting a neighbor’s house. Suspected to have been kidnapped, her disappearance sparked frustration among the villagers, who, after days of unsuccessful searching, decided to confront the family.
Candice’s parents, Felix Otieno Achungo and Rhoda Akech Otieno, explained that their daughter had gone to the neighbor’s house around 8:00 am, where she was given breakfast. However, she went missing shortly after, and despite their extensive search efforts within the village and neighboring areas, no trace of her had been found.
The family reported the incident to local authorities and the police, but the lack of progress in the investigation fueled the villagers’ outrage. According to rumors, the child had allegedly been taken by a boda boda operator who was summoned to the neighbor’s home on the day of her disappearance, leading the villagers to demand answers.
When the villagers descended on the neighbor’s home, they searched the property room by room. The situation escalated, prompting the family to call for police assistance. Officers from Kirind police post arrived on the scene, but the situation was tense, forcing them to request reinforcements from Sigomre police station.
Despite the arrival of armed officers, the villagers remained defiant. The police had to negotiate with the crowd, assuring them that an investigation would be conducted to locate the missing child. The key suspects were taken into custody and brought to Sigomre police station for questioning.
Relatives of the missing girl, led by Edwn Oluoch and Macrine Achungo, have since demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and ensure Candice is found.
