Police in Nandi County are on high alert after the ‘abduction’ of a 72-year-old woman over a suspected land lease agreement with a Gold mining firm.

Paulina Jeptoo Korir has not been traced at her home in Chepyagan village, Kibisem location since Friday, September 22, 2023, after she was allegedly duped by his son to be taken for enlisting for the elderly cash transfer.

Report says she had been asked by his son, Alfred Magut, to accompany him to Maraba county offices in Tindiret sub-county to help her in the registration of the government cash transfer program for the elderly.

“She boarded a boda boda together with Alfred and surprisingly was joined by Shadrack Melilei (stepson) who all boarded the same motorcycle and sped off,” Elizabeth Jelagat, the victim’s daughter and family spokesperson said.

“As a family we became suspicious but since the two men are part of our family we just kept quiet.”

The woman had woken up early hoping to be enlisted and boarded the boda boda at 7 am outside her homestead at Kibisem.

‘They returned home without our mother’

Jelagat, 48, the second-born child of the missing woman narrated further that in the evening, she was surprised the two brothers returned home without their mother.

On inquiring from them, they alleged she had been left behind in a home in Kapsabet due to a heavy downpour and considering her poor health, she couldn’t withstand the chilly weather.

However, family members claimed that their mother could have been kidnapped to be coerced to cancel or disown the lease she had voluntarily entered with Karebe Mining Company.

Gold mining firm in the saga too…

“We know there are people who have misled our father, Cheseret Korir, 97, into declining to extend the lease with Karebe Gold mines…now they are trying to influence the cancellation through coercion, which is unfair to our family,” Jelagat said.

Paulina’s son has allegedly been working with other forces to try and force out Karebe mining company from the area and get a replacement.

The mining company has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in Nandi employing over 800 direct employees in the Chemase area and providing direct support to the people under social corporate responsibilities.

“As a family, we urge self-seekers to stop misusing members of the Cheseret Korir family because since they started interfering with our relationship with the company, we have suffered psychologically and materially,” Jelagat added.