Mother Kills Son For Refusing to Breastfeed

breastfeeding
A woman breastfeeding her child.
File

A woman in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, is alleged to have killed her one-year-old son on the night of Saturday, February 27, for refusing to breastfeed.

The woman whom the police identified as Night Akoth Otieno, allegedly beheaded her son with a machete.

She is said to have killed her third born child inside the house. Police said that the 23-year-old mother killed her son while her husband was away.

An undated image of a police vehicle at a scene of a crime
A police vehicle pictured at a scene of a crime
Photo
NPS

The woman was restrained before being tied with ropes by neighbours who arrived at the scene. She was later handed to the police at Ndhiwa police station.

Area Assistant Chief Gabriel Nyatame claimed that the mother could be suffering from mental disorder.

“She was angered when her third born son refused to breastfeed after making several attempts,” said Nyatamae.

According to the police boss, Akoth confessed to the crime during interrogation.

The deceased body was taken to Manyataa Kobodo mortuary.

Kenyans.co.ke spoke to Naaman Oyugi a psychologist, who said that filicide can be attributed to a number of things.

"A mother can kill her own child because of general mental issues; that is psychosis or delusions about the child.

"Another reason could be due to postpartum depression which can cause the mother to dislike her own child after just few months of giving birth.

In some other cases, the mother can kill her child due to love related matters, especially when she is involved with another man. The child is, in that situation, often seen as a barrier to her happiness more so when it (the child) is illegitimate."

A Kenyan Police Officer at a crime scene
Kenyans police officers at a crime scene in Kisumu County in March 2016.
Photo
DCI

 

 

 

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