Woman who pleaded guilty to child stealing in love triangle dispute jailed for 3 years

A 26-year-old woman has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing a three-year-old child in a case linked to a romantic dispute.

According to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the woman was convicted by a Mombasa court after admitting to the offence of child stealing contrary to Section 174(1)(a) of the Penal Code.

She appeared before Principal Magistrate Jamlick Murithi, where she entered a guilty plea twice, even after the court warned her of the consequences of her admission.

The prosecution, led by counsel Martin Mbote, told the court that the incident occurred on March 20, 2026, in the Soweto/Kiwerera area of Likoni Sub-county.

The accused was said to have taken the child with the intent to deprive the lawful guardian of custody.

"The love triangle pitted the offender, her estranged husband, and the complainant, who was the husband’s mistress, creating emotional tension among all three adults involved deeply," the statement said.

The emotional tensions between the three reportedly escalated over time, culminating in the abduction.

ODPP further indicates that on the day of the incident, the child had been left at home under the care of her grandmother while the mother went to work.

Taking advantage of the situation, the accused allegedly entered the compound, picked up the child, and left unnoticed.

“As the elderly woman was busy inside the house with chores, the accused tiptoed and snatched the playing child,” the ODPP said in its statement.

The court heard that after taking the child, the accused returned to her residence, packed her belongings, and fled the area.

She is said to have crossed the busy Likoni ferry and boarded a bus headed to western Kenya, with Bungoma as her intended destination.

In a notable turn, the accused allegedly sent a message to the child’s mother informing her that she had taken the child.

"The traumatised mother hurriedly left her job to report the incident at Likoni police station, with detectives launching a manhunt for the woman, who was later tracked to Bungoma, where she was found with the minor," the statement added.

A pre-sentence report filed in court revealed that the accused admitted committing the offence out of jealousy and anger stemming from her estranged husband’s relationship with the child’s mother.

She reportedly told probation officers that her actions were driven by emotional distress linked to the love triangle.

“She unlawfully took the child belonging to the complainant, intending to disrupt the affair and assert control over the emotionally strained situation as alleged herein,” the ODPP noted.

The report further indicated that the accused expressed remorse for her actions and acknowledged the emotional harm caused to the child and the family.

However, the court also considered the seriousness of the offence opting for a custodial 3 year sentence as a deterrent.