By Sr. Dorothy Wekesa, IHTS
On the bright Sunday of June 28, 2026, a couple sat with their children in the front pew at Saint
Eusebius Cathedral Catholic Church in Isiolo. The eldest child was twelve years, the second was
seven years, and the youngest was three.
The youngest child was the target of the day.
The mother actively participated in the liturgy leading some of the activities and processions
during the Mass. As she did that the father remained with the children, always holding the
baby.
Seated on the pew directly behind the family was a woman who appeared to be equally
devoted to the Mass. She sang enthusiastically, responded to prayers, clapped, danced, and
participated in every activity. Yet, throughout the Mass, her attention remained focused on the
little girl.
The child was indeed beautiful, well-groomed with light skin, and had distinctive dimples. She
was also very gentle and welcoming to anyone who wished to carry her.
Because of her active participation in the liturgy no one suspected the woman of anything, not
even the father who remained holding the child whenever the mother joined the processions.
As the Mass came to an end, and the mother returned to her family and took the child from her
husband, the other woman visibly became restless.
She was seen throwing her hands saying, “I can’t miss this opportunity. The opportunity comes once in a lifetime, and it goes just like that!” She then approached the mother and asked to have a conversation.
“Is this your child? You have a very beautiful child, I saw her with a certain man, is that man her
father?” she asked, before boldly asking to buy the child. She said, “Christians help each other to succeed in life. Give me this child then I will give you
two million Kenyan shillings.”
Grace got terrified, her heart raced and she started sweating, listening in disbelief as another
woman offered to buy her child.
She recalled a previous incident when she got sprayed with a substance while coming from the
bank and she lost all the money she had on her. She feared that this woman could also spray
her and take away her child.
Unsure of how to end the conversation, Grace asked the woman to give her time to think and
meet the following week.
The woman reminded her of the KES 2 million offer and added that they could go to the court
and do proper documentation of the sale. Grace told her she would look for some people to be
her witnesses then continue the discussion the following Sunday.
When Grace narrated the encounter to her husband, the incident sparked tension in the family
with the father questioning why she had continued talking to the woman, and Grace insisting
that it was her husband who had been holding the child throughout the Mass and had allowed
the woman to see the child.
The mother decided to share the incident with Sister Monica, not her real name, who advised
them to be more vigilant with their family, especially the children.
From then, they decided that they would be letting their children attend the Pontifical
Missionary Childhood (PMC) Mass to worship with the other children in a space where they
would be safe. They ensured that a caregiver remained with their youngest child throughout
the service and afterwards to better safeguard and protect her.