Former Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has issued an update on Baby Sagini, whose eyes were gouged out by relatives in 2022.
Taking to social media on Sunday morning, Sonko narrated that although those responsible for the heinous crime were eventually caught and prosecuted, the little boy had yet to receive comprehensive treatment due to frustrations from the children's home where Baby Sagini is staying.
"Some people are so inhuman and heartless. Imagine Baby Sagini, the baby whose eyes were gouged out by his relatives 3 years ago, has not received any serious medical attention to date due to frustrations by a children's home managed by the notorious Child Welfare Society," Sonko wrote in a statement.
In a gripping plea, Sagini's mother, Maureen Nyaboke, relayed her frustrations trying to access her baby at the South C-based children's home after a team of Indian eye surgeons who had arrived in the country to operate on another girl agreed to take on Baby Sagini's case.
According to Nyaboke, officials at the children's home took her on a wild goose chase, seeking court orders from both Kisii and Nairobi, which she acquired but were trampled upon anyway.
"I have come all the way from Kisii because I got word that Sonko was willing to help my child. I went to the children's home, but I was chased away as if I did not give birth to that baby," she tearfully narrated.
"I was not allowed to see her. They sent me away to get a court order from Kisii, then another one in Nairobi, but they still chased me away. They do not want to listen to me. Please help me so that my child can be taken to the hospital."
In the well-documented video, Sonko alleged that the children's home had even denied his own pleas as they kept disobeying court orders and also from the eye hospital that had agreed to perform the surgery.
Baby Sagini was taken into the protective custody of the Child Welfare Society since his attack, and any efforts to have him released for specialised treatment had been met with challenges for years.
According to Sonko, after making a pledge to airlift the little boy to get the treatment he needed in South China, before the case was concluded, lawyers and Kisii County leaders halted the process as Baby Sagini was expected in court to testify.
The Indian doctors have reportedly agreed to perform surgery to equip him with bionic eyes, which would help him sense his surroundings.
However, the children's home's blatant contempt of the court orders has led to a very familiar delay in the surgery, which is expected to improve the welfare of the baby.
In 2023, the former governor was also denied the authorisation to airlift Sagini to South China after he pledged to help him regain his eyesight at a renowned hospital. Back then, political and legal minds rejected this, as Sagini was considered a witness in the assault case.
The same year, the case was concluded and saw the 3 accused apprehended and sentenced to 40 years, 10 years, and 5 years imprisonment. This has done little to change Sagini's situation, as he remains in protective custody with several impediments delaying his surgery.
