Residents of Sirende Village in Lugari Sub-county, Kakamega County were treated to a horrific episode after dogs were found tearing apart a newborn baby who had been dumped in a sugarcane plantation.
Mr. Chirui Wanyama was returning home at around 7 pm through a path in a sugarcane plantation before bumping into a pack of dogs scrambling for something.
“At first, I thought the dogs had killed a wild animal. I rushed to the house, took a torch, and returned to check what it was, only to find it was a newborn baby’s corpse,” said Chirui.
He was moved upon seeing a baby’s head, and on drawing closer, he observed that they had devoured the lower part from the hips downwards.
He chased the canines away and alerted neighbors and the local administrator.
What’s up?
A mother is suspected of giving birth safely before abandoning her child in the plantation.
Pius Juma, the village elder, has expressed bitterness over the incident and said they suspect a woman in the neighborhood whose pregnancy disappeared a day before this happened.
“We are hunting for her so that she can record a statement with the police,” he said.
Lugari Sub-county police commander Bernard Ngungu confirmed the incident and appealed to the public to provide information that may help bring the suspect to book.
The body of the newborn has been taken to Webuye Mortuary by Lumakanda Police as investigations commence.
Is it a must to raise a newborn baby?
Some circumstances may force a mother to abandon a baby, some which may be out of her control. Such include issues like the mother is too young to keep one, she was raped or she needs to attend school.
In the event that you give birth to a child you are not willing to raise, you can:
- Give the baby to a parent, relative or a friend you trust to take care of it
- Give away the baby to an orphanage
- Seek counselling
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
