The Kenyan football community breathed a collective sigh of relief after learning that Police Bullets FC midfielder Jane Hato, who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances, was found safe nearly 24 hours after her disappearance. Hato, who also serves as the captain of the U20 Rising Starlets, vanished on Wednesday night while en route to the General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters on Thika Road. The team had planned to meet there before heading to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they were scheduled to compete in the CAF Champions League zonal qualification match.
Hato’s sudden disappearance caused significant concern among her family, teammates, and the broader public. The fact that her phone was turned off and unreachable only added to the anxiety. Given the crucial nature of the trip—preparing for an international competition—her absence was immediately alarming. The flight to Addis Ababa was scheduled for 2:00 AM, and the early gathering organized by the Police Bullets management was intended to ensure the team’s timely arrival at JKIA. However, when Hato did not show up, panic quickly set in.
In an effort to locate her daughter, Hato’s mother, Ann Aluoch—who also coaches Mathare United Women and the Starlets U20—took to social media, pleading for any information that could help trace Hato’s whereabouts. Her distressing posts quickly garnered attention, prompting widespread concern and a flurry of activity as the search for Hato intensified. Responding to the public outcry, Police FC CEO Superintendent Chris Oguso addressed the situation, urging calm and assuring everyone that the matter was being treated as a missing person case. Oguso emphasized that all available resources were being mobilized to find Hato.
The search for Hato came to a successful conclusion almost 24 hours later when she was found safe in Juja, Kiambu County. Preliminary investigations led authorities to Gachororo Health Centre in Juja, where Hato was eventually located and reunited with her family. Following her safe return, Superintendent Oguso suggested that Hato might have been with someone she knew, hinting that the incident was being approached as a private family matter pending further investigation.
Jane Hato’s recent transfer to Police Bullets FC from Mathare United Women FC had made her a highly anticipated addition to the team, especially with the upcoming CAF Champions League Zone Five qualifiers. Her former club, Mathare United Women, also confirmed her safety in a statement, expressing relief and urging the public to respect the family’s privacy as they continue to investigate the reasons behind her disappearance. The statement read, “We can confirm that Jane Hato is safe and sound. At the moment, let’s give the family some privacy as they investigate what led to the disappearance of their daughter.”
Amid the relief, rumors began circulating that Hato might have been negotiating a deal with a club in the United States, with some reports suggesting that certain family members were keen on her missing the flight to Ethiopia to finalize the American deal. However, these claims have not been substantiated, and the exact circumstances surrounding Hato’s disappearance remain unclear.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF), which had earlier issued an appeal for any information that could help locate Hato, also confirmed the news of her safe return. FKF’s involvement highlighted the seriousness with which the football community treated the situation, drawing parallels to other high-profile disappearances in Kenyan football.
One such case involved KCB goalkeeper Brian Olang’o, who mysteriously disappeared on March 11th, 2024, after meeting up with former teammates. Olang’o was later found the next day in Ngong Forest, having been abducted, beaten, and robbed by unknown individuals. Another similar incident occurred in April 2023, when Halima Tadicha of Kangemi Ladies vanished after a match at Toi Grounds in Kibera. Tadicha was eventually found after an extensive search effort.
The incident involving Hato has raised questions about the safety and well-being of athletes in Kenya, particularly those in the public eye. While the reasons behind her disappearance are still being investigated, the football community has rallied around her and her family, offering support and expressing relief at her safe return.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Hato will join her teammates in Ethiopia for the CAF Champions League qualifiers. Police CEO Chris Oguso is expected to release a statement soon, providing further clarification on the matter and the next steps for both Hato and the team.
