A former social worker at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital has been convicted of child trafficking.

On Wednesday, Trial Magistrate Esther Kimilu found Fred Leparan guilt of conspiracy to commit an offence and two counts of trafficking in persons. The trial, which was reliant on video evidence that showed that the accused was involved in negotiating the cost for sale of three infants at the Mama Lucy facility in 2020, also passed judgement on Fred Leparan’s co-accused.

His co-accused Selina Awuor Adundo was acquitted of the child tracking offense due to lack of evidence. She was, however, charged with negligence.

“The two knowing that they had a duty of care of these three children, exposed the children to abuse and therefore the two are guilty of the offence as charged,” the court noted.

The case of child trafficking at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital was initially brought to light due to a BBC documentary

The children were to be sold to a client known to the court as ‘Rose’ and another purchaser who has since proven themself a whistle-blower. The case was initially brought to light due to the a BBC-produced investigative documentary.

The prosecution called a total of 18 witnesses to testify in the case. During the hearing, one of the witnesses narrated to the court how Fred Leparan took Ksh.300,000 from a journalist in an illegal sale of abandoned babies at the hospital.

The court ordered the convicts to be remanded at the Industrial Area and Langata Women’s Prison awaiting sentencing in October 2023.