- Caleb Okumu Ngwena has been charged with trafficking two minors for alleged sexual exploitation, defilement and indecent acts with children.
- Ngwena has pleaded not guilty before the Shanzu Law Courts and has been granted bond of Sh800,000 or cash bail of Sh500,000.
- The case has followed a DCI investigation launched after the two children were reported missing in Kisauni on August 27, with an accomplice still being sought.
A Mombasa-based human rights defender, Caleb Okumu Ngwena, has been charged with trafficking two children for alleged sexual exploitation, defilement and committing indecent acts with children.
Ngwena appeared before Shanzu Law Courts on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, where he faced two counts of trafficking in persons under Section 3(3) as read with Section 3(5) of the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act.
According to the prosecution, Ngwena allegedly transferred two children aged 17 and 16 from Kiembeni Village in Kisauni Sub-County, Mombasa County, to Kiambu County on the night of August 25 and 26 for purposes of sexual exploitation.
He also faces a separate charge of defilement under Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(4) of the Sexual Offences Act, with the prosecution alleging that the offence occurred in Kiambu County on August 26. The accused further faces two counts of committing an indecent act with a child contrary to Section 11(1) of the Sexual Offences Act.
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Ngwena denied all the charges and pleaded not guilty before Resident Magistrate Vincent Odhiambo. Through his lawyers, he applied to be released on reasonable bond terms.
The prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele and Prosecution Counsel Orina Sagini, urged the court to consider the seriousness of the charges while determining the bond application. The court subsequently granted Ngwena a bond of Sh800,000 with one surety, or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000 with one contact person.
The case will be mentioned on October 1, 2026, for pre-trial directions and fixing of hearing dates.
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The charges remain allegations, and Ngwena is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law. The identities of the two minors have not been published to protect their privacy.
The case follows an earlier investigation by detectives in Kisauni after the two children were reported missing on August 27. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations had said the children were allegedly taken to Kiambu, where they were held for several days, and that an accomplice was still being sought.
By Salim Mwachofi
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