A court sitting in Nakuru reversed its decision to send a woman to three years in jail for burning her son with hot water.
The 10-year-old boy pleaded with Nakuru Principal Magistrate Yvonne Khatambi to free his mother stating that he had forgiven her.
Rebecca Nyakundi who was charged with causing bodily harm to Brian Mose was sentenced to probation for a period of three years.
“I sentence the accused to probation for a period of three years. During the said period, the accused is expected to adhere to a probation order, failure to which she should be arrested and a custodial sentence be imposed,” Nakuru Principal Magistrate ruled.
Probation officer, Dorothy Ngigi, told the court that Mose had forgiven his mother, and he did not wish to see her imprisoned.
“The victim says he’s feeling better. He wishes to be reunited with his mother, whom he said he has forgiven. The boy said his mother reacted angrily because he wronged her,” Ngigi wrote in her report, according to the Standard.
The court had heard that on June 8, 2021, Nyakundi burned Mose with hot water after he failed to wash utensils as she had instructed.
According to the prosecution, the accused hit the child before boiling hot water and scalding him.
The mother of three burned Mose and hid him in the house with scalding injuries on his head, hands and legs.
However, neighbours saved the boy after he called out for help when the suspect locked him in the house for days without going to school.
Cases of child abuse were rampant in Kenya especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when children had to be sent home from schools.
According to a study by the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), sexual abuse and child neglect were the highest reported cases in the country.
