A 25-year-old woman was arrested after abandoning her four-month-old baby and refusing to breastfeed her unless her husband paid Ksh100,000.
Faith Nyokabi was accused of having abandoned the baby at her matrimonial home and pleas to have her return and take care of the toddler were futile as she made a Ksh100,000 demand.
Charles Kirii, 36, a casual labourer who is Nyokabi's husband told police he was called by a neighbour on August 1, who informed him that his wife had left their infant in the house alone.
He rushed home and found the baby under the care of neighbours who informed him the toddler was abandoned immediately he left for work and had been crying endlessly.
[caption caption="Faith Nyokabi, the woman who refused to breastfeed her baby"]
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Attempts to reach his wife on phone were fruitless since she refused to pick all his calls.
“When my wife finally picked my calls, she informed me that she was okay but wasn’t coming back to me unless I gave her 100,000 shillings," Kirii stated.
"I pleaded with her to come and breastfeed. That’s when she revealed that her mother had actually taken her to a local hospital and had her injected with a drug to dry out the milk,” he lamented.
Kirii explained that he reported the matter at the Thika Children’s Offices and was referred to Murang’a Children’s offices where he was advised to find the infant temporary care.
He resolved to take the toddler at his aged mother’s home adding that he did not have any previous quarrels with his wife, but had constantly crossed paths with his mother-in-law who has been making frequent financial demands.
[caption caption="A baby breastfeeding"]
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The Thika Children’s Officer Lina Mwangi stated that the woman will be charged with child neglect, denying a child protection and care which is an offence under the children’s Act.
“I have advised the father to look for a temporary caregiver who can take care of the infant under his watch as the court makes a ruling,” the Children's Officer stated.
