Three men accused of trafficking a child from Nairobi to Libya, where the minor was allegedly tortured as part of an extortion scheme, are expected to enter their pleas at the Kahawa Law Courts.
Abdi Samed Abukar, Abdirahman Dagane Ahmed and Abdifatah Abdi Elmi appeared in court on Wednesday but did not take their pleas as proceedings focused on an application concerning their continued detention.
The suspects are linked to an alleged international criminal network accused of abducting the child and demanding millions of shillings from the family in exchange for the minor’s release. According to court documents, the child was abducted from Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate on April 10, 2025, before being transported through Sudan and South Sudan to Libya, a country affected by prolonged conflict.
Once in Libya, the minor was allegedly held captive and tortured. Members of the suspected syndicate reportedly recorded videos showing the abuse and sent them to the child’s parents to pressure them into paying the demanded ransom. The family is said to have paid more than KSh5 million to the alleged traffickers in an attempt to secure the child’s freedom.
The family’s lawyer, Kevin Omwanza, said efforts to rescue the minor had been ongoing since the abduction, with the alleged extortion network demanding a total of KSh5.5 million.
The prosecution opposed the suspects’ release, arguing that they could flee if granted their freedom as investigations into the alleged trafficking and extortion operation continue.
Magistrate Gedion Kage deferred the plea-taking and indicated that the court would continue hearing the application the following day. The suspects were to remain in the custody of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) as the prosecution finalised its submissions.
The minor has since been rescued by Libyan authorities and is undergoing medical treatment in Tripoli. Kenyan investigators are working with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to coordinate the child’s return to Kenya.
The case now turns to establishing the suspects’ alleged roles in the cross-border operation and tracing the money paid by the family. The family is also calling on authorities to investigate the alleged ransom transactions and pursue those suspected of involvement in the trafficking network reportedly operating from Eastleigh.
