The mystery surrounding an incident where fourteen needles were found inside a baby's body in Thika in 2017 has been unravelled.
Testifying in the case, Doctor Ng’etich, revealed that a medical report presented before the court indicated that the baby’s buttocks had scars.
In this view, Ng’etich concluded that the injuries likely suggest that the needles were inserted through the baby's buttocks.
[caption caption="The child in hospita"]
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The revelation saw the court rule that the parents of the child have a case to answer as they defend how the needles were inserted while the baby was under their care.
However, despite the evidence implicating them, the parents Jacinta Ndunge and Isaac Gichura maintained that they were innocent.
The testimony mirrored a theory proposed by medics at the Kapenguria hospital who believed that the seven sewing needles discovered lodged in the body of a three-year-old child were inserted.
Doctors have termed the inserting of blunt objects as acts of mistreatment of innocent children and causing bodily harm.
Although doctors have been successful in removing most of the needle in both the Thika and Kapenguria cases, however, at least one needle in each case was said to be located in sensitive areas that risked harming the childs nerves and blood vessels.
Infanticide, the intentional killing of infants has been largely blamed for the trend that sees needles lodged in their bodies.
[caption caption="The parents in court"]
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Another cited reason is where the parents or guardians seek the services of traditional healers to treat illnesses.
