Kwale mother’s desperate plea for international intervention as she battles for custody of her one-year-old daughter left behind in Moscow
Faith Jerop sits in her modest home in Diani, Kwale County, staring at photos on her phone of her one-year-old daughter Maya Andevna Sinitsa.
The images are all she has left of the child who remains thousands of miles away in Russia, allegedly held by her Russian ex-partner Andrey Sinista against the mother’s will.
The situation that the 23-year-old woman was going through initially appeared to be a get-together with her family, but it has since developed into a nightmare for international custody that has attracted the attention of diplomatic and human rights groups.
A Journey Built on Deception
In 2023, Jerop met the 41-year-old Russian national at a supermarket in Diani, where she worked. This was the beginning of their relationship. What started as a whirlwind romance quickly turned complicated when she became pregnant within three months of dating.
“My partner wanted me to terminate the pregnancy, but my mother strongly opposed that idea,” Jerop recalled during an interview at her home.
She informed me, "This is your child and your responsibility, regardless of what the man does." Those words strengthened me. When Jerop was unable to travel due to delays in the processing of his passport, the Russian man Andrey Sinista set out on his own to Argentina. He came back after Maya was born and stayed there for six months. During that time, he helped get the child's birth certificate and applied for the mother and daughter's passports. However, his secretive behavior about his occupation and long stay raised suspicions among Jerop’s family members, who found his insistence on working online jobs unconvincing.
The Moscow Trap
When Maya turned one in April 2025, her father made the proposal to go to Moscow. He said that his ailing father wanted to meet their daughter and give her an inheritance before he died. Despite her mother’s warnings and her own misgivings, Jerop agreed to the two-month visit.
“He told me that his father was on his deathbed and wanted to give our daughter his inheritance. “He insisted that if we delayed, the old man might die before we met her,” Jerop explained. This made the trip seem urgent. In Moscow, the actual situation was very different from what had been promised. They went straight to a small apartment, where Jerop occupied the living room and her partner the bedroom instead of meeting family members. “I thought we were going to his parents’ house, but we went to an apartment instead. He told me to sleep in the living room while he took the bedroom. That’s when I began to feel that something was very wrong,” she said.
Custody Battle Begins
When her partner left with Maya for a weekend claiming to visit his mother, the situation quickly deteriorated. When he got back, he became icy and violent, and he ended up going back with a lawyer who said that Jerop was mentally ill and a danger to the child's safety. “I couldn’t speak Russian. I felt helpless and trapped. I didn’t have access to my baby. Jerop recalled, her voice breaking, "I was afraid to tell my mother that her worst fears were coming true." Unable to communicate effectively in Russian and with limited legal options, Jerop turned to social media for help.
She began broadcasting live every day at 7 p.m., pleading for assistance from her followers, via WhatsApp and later TikTok via a VPN. Kenyans living in Russia became aware of her social media campaign, which eventually reached the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow. The Russian Embassy in Kenya has confirmed that Jerop sought legal counsel for her daughter at its Consular Section on June 5 and June 10, 2025. Jerop's partner, according to embassy officials, informed them that she had tuberculosis when they inquired about her situation. This prompted them to make arrangements for her to be evacuated to Kenya. Three days later, she was placed in a safe house and eventually flown back to Kenya, leaving Maya behind with her father.
Financial and legal issues Now back in Kenya, Jerop faces the daunting task of pursuing custody through Russian courts.
She has started online fundraising for the upcoming battle and has estimated that the legal process could cost up to Sh2 million. She may require up to Sh10 million to successfully navigate the complicated international custody case, according to recent reports. “Every day, I feel like something is missing inside me. If Maya were dead, I would mourn her. But she is alive and I have no idea how she is,” Jerop said, fighting back tears.
International Law Complexities
Unless a domestic court rules otherwise, Russian law gives both parents joint custody of their children. Russian courts have the authority to handle child custody issues for foreign nationals if certain conditions are met, such as the defendant parent having a residency permit in Russia.
The case highlights the challenges faced by Kenyan nationals in international custody disputes, particularly when children are involved.
Kenya and Russia maintain diplomatic relations, but complex legal frameworks governing child custody across borders often leave parents in vulnerable positions.
Family’s Desperate Plea
Jennifer Ekitela, erop's mother, owns a small business in the Diani neighborhood of Mvindeni. She says she regrets letting her daughter travel but supports her fight for custody. “I warned her because I knew something wasn’t right. She stated, "All I want now is to see my granddaughter once more." The family is calling on Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international human rights organizations to intervene in the case.
They argue that Maya's separation from her mother was a form of international child abduction because of the circumstances. The complicated legal terrain of cross-border custody disputes and the vulnerability of young Kenyan women in international relationships are brought to light in this case. It also raises questions about the support systems available to Kenyan nationals facing legal challenges abroad.
Legal experts say that cases like Jerop's are getting more common as more international relationships are formed as a result of globalization, but the legal frameworks for resolving such disputes are still inadequate. Current Status
Jerop continues to seek shared custody of her daughter through legal channels, while also facing what she describes as ongoing intimidation from her former partner.
"I've recovered; I'm strong. I’m ready to fight for my daughter. She declared, "She is the only thing that matters to me now." As the case develops, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for stronger international cooperation on child custody matters and better protection for parents caught in cross-border legal disputes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued a public statement on the case, but diplomatic sources indicate that discussions with Russian authorities are ongoing.
For now, Faith Jerop waits, armed with determination and the support of a growing online community, as she fights to bring her daughter home from thousands of miles away.
0 Comments
Leave Your Comment