Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria, has appealed to members of the public to assist authorities in tracing a house help suspected to have been involved in the mysterious death of a four-year-old girl in Ruai, Nairobi.
In a statement posted on his X account on May 2, 2026, Mosiria identified the suspect as Joyce Onyango, a domestic worker who had reportedly been employed by the child’s mother, Ann Wanjiru, for a short period before the tragic incident.
According to Mosiria, the suspect allegedly disappeared shortly after leaving the minor in circumstances that have since raised suspicion, prompting calls for urgent investigations.
“Joyce Onyango, a housemaid in Ruai, is suspected to have poisoned and killed a 4-year-old baby girl following a disagreement with her employer, who is the child’s mother,” Mosiria stated, adding that the suspect was last seen in Githurai after reportedly indicating she was travelling to Kisumu.
He further urged anyone with information that could help trace her whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or call 0748253190.
The heartbreaking details of the child’s final hours were narrated by her mother, Ann Wanjiru, who recounted a disagreement over the house help’s salary.
“Aliingia tarehe tatu lakini alikuwa anataka alipwe tarehe moja, sikuwa nimelipwa mshahara. Nilikuwa namtafuta kwa simu hashiki, akapea mama yake number, akaniinsult, akaniongelesha vibaya.
Sasa mamake vile aliniongelesha vibaya nikamwambia bado sijalipwa mshahara but nikilipwa nitampea pesa yake immediately akasema ni sawa,” Wanjiru explained, saying she had promised to pay the domestic worker once she received her salary.
Later, Wanjiru said she called the house help to check on her daughter’s wellbeing and was assured that “mtoto ako sawa anacheza,” before she informed her that she was leaving for Kisumu.
“Nikapigia msichana nikamuuliza kama mtoto ako sawa akaniambia mtoto ako sawa anacheza lakini mimi naenda, napanda gari naenda Kisumu, ilikuwa kitu saa nne, saa nne unusu, mimi kuskia hivo , nikaenda nyumbani, nikapata mtoto ako sawa anacheza.” Wanjiru said
When Wanjiru returned home, she found her daughter alive and well, ate with her and even gave her sweets. However, moments later, the child began vomiting.
“Nilikuwa nimembebea vitu za kula, akakula akaniambia anataka kula sweet, nikampa sweet akatapika, matapishi yake ilikuwa greenish in colour, so mimi sikuchukulia hivo nikadhani labda ni kushiba ameshiba ama ni hizo vitu amekula.
Dakika kidogo mtoto akasema amechoka anataka kulala, akalala kwa kiti mimi nikaendelea na shughuli zangu kwa nyumba, akaamka, vile aliamka akasema bado anaumwa na tumbo kidogo but sio sanaa, ako kiu anataka maji nikampea maji tukakula supper” she said.
As the night progressed, the child reportedly complained of stomach pain and fatigue before going to sleep.
“Around saa mbili unusu saa tatu akasema amechoka anataka kulala, nikampeleka bedroom nikamfunika vizuri nikarudi sitting room nikaendelea na shughuli zangu.” The mother narrated.
At around 11 P.M , Wanjiru went to wake her daughter only to discover she was cold and unresponsive.
“Kitu saa tano unusu nilienda kumuamsha akojoe ndio asikojoe kwa kitanda, nikapata ako mbaridi, harespond, nikajaribu kumuita haitiki, nikaenda kwa neighbor, nikamwambia ebu kuja ujaribu kuniitia mtoto labda wewe ataitika.
Sasa venye aliona haitiki tukamleta hospitali, madaktari wakaniambia wamejaribu all their best but amepass.” the grieving mother narrated.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage online, with many Kenyans calling for swift investigations and justice for the young girl, as efforts intensify to locate the suspect at the centre of the case.
