Milimani Law Courts Principal Magistrate Jackie Kibosia on Tuesday, August 22, recounted a heartbreaking case of a mother who fed her child alcohol in an attempt to soothe her to stop crying.
The magistrate delivered this heartfelt account during the inaugural training of religious leaders in Kenya geared at fighting drug and alcohol abuse and to sensitize the youth about HIV/AIDS.
Magistrate Kibosia observed that the young child had developed a dependence on the drink, as was evident in a case presented before her. The case involved instances of maternal neglect.
When prompted to clarify her actions, the mother justified her decision by expressing that she felt she had no other recourse but to administer alcohol to her baby at 6:00 pm to ensure the infant slept throughout the night as the mother went to work.
“The baby could not stay sober. When the baby was rescued, the baby was already addicted,” stated the magistrate.
The mother worked as a commercial sex worker.
Second Lady, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, who was in attendance called on mothers of drug barons to urge their children to stop the killer trade.
“I am speaking to every mother; every drug baron is the son of somebody. If we can speak to the big boys (drug barons), then they can stop killing our young boys. We do not want to bury our children,” she stated.
Effects of Alcohol on a Growing Brain
According to the Government of Western Australia's Department of Health, alcohol harms the development of the brain of a child if consumed by individuals below the age of 18 years.
Continued abuse affects the child’s problem solving skills and performance at school. The children also grow up with slurred speech, confusion, poor vision, poor muscle control and judgement as well as slower reactions.
"Children under 15 are at greatest risk of harm from drinking and for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important," revealed research from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) based in Australia.
"For young people 15 to 17, the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking alcohol for as long as possible."
