“The joy of motherhood comes in moments; there will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction,” wrote M. Russell Ballard- a quote that Faith Jerop struggles to identify with in this present moment.
For Faith Jerop Lokapitei, a young mother from Diani in Kenya’s Kwale County, those shining moments came in the early days of bonding with her newborn daughter, Maya.
Speaking to The Kenya Times, Faith shared her moments of soft laughter, beautiful memories in Moscow, and the quiet hope of building a family.
But her story would soon turn into a painful journey of betrayal, isolation, and a desperate plea for reunion, a struggle that brought her back home without the child she fought so hard to protect.
Faith Jerop Hope for a Family
Faith Jerop met her Russian partner, Sinitsa Andrey Vasilevich, on April 4, 2023, in Diani while on her way home from work.
The couple dated for three months, and in July 2023, Faith became pregnant. Due to complications related to the pregnancy, Andrey advised her to resign from her job and move in with him.
What began as a loving relationship quickly evolved into a complicated and painful journey marked by emotional distress, health challenges, cross-border travel, and the heartbreaking separation from her child.
In November 2023, she narrates, Andrey disowned the pregnancy, claiming he was not ready for fatherhood.
He had initially hoped that the child would be born in Argentina, but Faith’s lack of a passport derailed those plans.
Relationship Cracks
Their relationship took a sudden turn, and on December 30, 2023, on the same day Andrey left for Spain, Faith returned to her parents’ home, unable to afford the hotel where they had been staying.
Despite the separation, the father of her child continued to support her financially.
On April 3, 2024, she gave birth to a baby girl, Maya, through a caesarean section. The father who was still in Spain, covered half the hospital bill, while her mother covered the remainder.
Faith’s partner then returned to Kenya when Maya was three months old and began planning for their relocation to Russia, citing his father’s declining health and the need for Maya to receive blessings from her grandfather.
When Light Fades from the Path
At the time, Faith was battling a health issue. On March 1, 2025, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), a condition she had recently contracted.
Aware of her diagnosis, they proceeded to arrange for travel documents and a three-month visa for their journey to Russia.
On April 10, 2025, they arrived in Moscow and settled into an apartment in the Russian capital. For the first few weeks, their life in Russia was peaceful.
However, the situation quickly deteriorated. On May 7, 2025, when the father of the baby took the baby for a sleepover at his mother’s house, claiming that Faith could not come along due to her tuberculosis.
On May 9, during Victory Day celebrations, Andrey left with the baby to watch fireworks and never returned that night.
The following day, he arrived with a man claiming to be his lawyer and served Faith with a letter filled with false accusations.
Faith, shocked and emotionally disturbed, begged him not to abandon her, but her pleas were ignored. The lawyer started taking photos of the apartment, warning her that she would be held liable for any damage. That was the last time Faith saw her baby.
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A Desperate Run for Help
Desperate, she reached out to the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow, which assisted her in contacting Andrey regarding baby Maya and retrieving her documents, including her passport and residence registration.
Despite promising the embassy that he would deliver the documents, he failed to do so, only to later send a photo showing her passport placed in a drawer.
The embassy, concerned about her safety, accommodated her temporarily and attempted to mediate.
Between May 13 and 15, 2025, they repeatedly requested him to bring the baby to the embassy or meet Faith in a neutral location. He proposed a meeting at a children’s hospital but never showed up.
When it became clear that he had no intention of cooperating, the embassy staff accompanied Faith to several police stations near his residence, only to discover that she had not been officially registered.
Eventually, they were referred to the police headquarters. With the help of a translator, she was interrogated. When the partner was contacted, his immediate response was, “The girl has tuberculosis.” That statement effectively ended the conversation, as the officials reportedly refused to proceed.
The embassy informed Faith that the remark had serious implications for her status in Russia and that they could no longer host her.
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Russian Embassy Responds to The Kenya Times
Speaking to The Kenya Times, the Russian Embassy in Kenya confirmed that Lokapitei, a Kenyan national, visited its Consular Section on June 5 and June 10, 2025, seeking legal assistance concerning her daughter.
According to the Embassy, Lokapitei requested help in facilitating the return of her daughter to Kenya. However, she was informed that under Russian citizenship legislation, her daughter is regarded solely as a Russian citizen by the Russian authorities.
As such, any disputes concerning the child’s welfare and custody fall under the jurisdiction of Russian courts.
“The Embassy is not vested with legal powers to mediate in family issues, including the matter raised by Ms. Lokapitei,” read the email.
Additionally, Faith inquired about the requirements for a possible future visa application. The Embassy responded by providing her with general information on visa procedures, which are also accessible on its official website.
The Embassy also confirmed that Andrey himself informed it of the dispute on May 14, 2025. Due to confidential nature of his statement, the Embassy could not disclose full details of such, but can confirm that the daughter is in Sinitsa’s custody
A Journey of Holding on to Hope
Having ran out of options, Faith reached out to him to request a return ticket to Kenya. He agreed to pay for the ticket and escorted her to the airport, but refused to let her see her baby one last time.
On May 16, 2025, Faith returned to Kenya heartbroken, helpless, and without her daughter. She now lives with the weight of a painful and unresolved separation, hoping that justice will be served and that she will one day be reunited with baby Maya.
“There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood,” said M. Russell Ballard.
For Faith Jerop, that role endures not just in memory but in her unwavering determination to be a part of her daughter’s life once more.
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