Lugari: Mentally challenged woman and her 6-months-old-baby living in a defunct university building for a month now

A mentally challenged woman and her six-month-old baby boy are staying in the compound of the defunct JKUAT University Lugari branch in Lugari Ward of Lugari Sub-county, Kakamega County, for a month now.

The woman, identified only as Metrine, who is mentally challenged, claims to be from Chesamisi in Kimilili Sub-county, Bungoma County, and was married to a man in Nzoia-Kibisi in the same county, where she claims she got abandoned.

“The baby boy ni Mungu tu. His mother covers him with leaves at night just to provide warmth and serve as a mattress. Spending cold nights on the floor of the university halls with no windows,” said Tom Wabuke, a businessman at Lugari Centre, who is making effort to rescue the woman and her baby.

Mr. Wabuke said the woman wakes up as early as 5 am to go beg at the nearest shopping centers and comes back in the evening for shelter.

He reported the matter to the local authorities in Nzoia but no action has been taken until now.

“On Monday I called the Kibisi chief, he must be aware of her existence but I have not seen any help up to now,” he said and added that he reported the matter to Lugari Sub-location area assistant chief.

Lugari Sub-location assistant chief, Shadrach Miheso, who confirmed the incident, has called on members of the public to help trace the woman’s home.

“It is not the first time this woman has been seen around. The first time we spotted her we took her back to Nzoia but after some time she is back. We have reported the matter to the children’s department in Lumakanda in an effort to try to help the kid,” he told the Western Kenya Times.

Mr. Miheso added that the woman cooks her meals at the university compound and sleeps on the cold floor with her baby.

“Residents give her some food to eat and other things,” he said.

Sam Oduor

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.