This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On August 21, 2019, Kakamega Central police rescued a 17-year-old girl who had been stranded in Kakamega for three weeks after being tricked into a relationship with a man she met on Facebook.
The girl, from Mombasa, had exchanged contacts with the man on Facebook and after communicating for a short time, he invited her to Kakamega. However, after she arrived, the man disappeared and switched off his phone.
According to the girl, the man claimed to be stranded in Malava after his car broke down and sent her money for accommodation, promising to meet her the following day. He never showed up.
Days later, the man called her and asked that they meet in Shinyalu market, but he again failed to show up, leaving her stranded.
Kakamega Central police boss David Kabena cautioned young girls against going for blind dates and helped the girl return to her parents in Bamburi.
“This girl came to Kakamega on July 26 and has been living with a Good Samaritan in Shirere with the hope that her lover would call back and take her to his home,” Kabena said.
“The Facebook man has never shown up called. I’m giving her bus fare to go back to Mombasa. I’m warning young girls not to be involved with people they don’t know, especially on social media. What if something bad happened to this small girl!?” he asked.
