An eight-months-old baby is lucky to be alive after coast guards and other individuals acted swiftly to rescue her after the mother threw her into the Indian Ocean.
The Kenya Red Cross, in a statement on Sunday, indicated that the child had been rescued and was receiving specialised medical attention at the Kenya Red Cross Rescue Centre.
"An 8-month-old child, miraculously saved after a distressing incident in the Indian Ocean, is now safe at the Kenya Red Cross Rescue Center.
"Thanks to swift action and our heartfelt gratitude to the rescue team," read the statement by Kenya Red Cross in part.
A clip shared on social media showed a group of responders armed with floaters diving into the ocean immediately after the incident occurred.
The incident angered Kenyans who called for action to be taken against the parent.
"This is totally unacceptable," lamented an individual irked by the incident.
"Humans have the capacity to be heartless against each other but I admire the fact that they also possess the capacity to come through for victims of the said heartlessness. In some cases, even risking their own lives," added another.
"The mother should face a life sentence and spend all her life in prison. Wondering whether struggling with her kid was better than rotting in prison," demanded a user identified as Mwangi.
According to Kenyan laws, an adult or individual older than 14 years risks spending life behind bars if found guilty of causing death to a child.
In a similar case whose judgment was rendered in 2021, a mother was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life imprisonment after killing her 4 sons and 1 daughter by drowning.
She was, however, later found not guilty during the appeal stage after it was established that she suffered a severe case of psychosis and postpartum depression.
The court found out that her husband had forced her to bear children despite her psychiatrist's warning over her postpartum disorder.
Counsellors, medics, and psychologists highly recommend seeking help whenever you experience any mental health issues. Call the Kenya Red Cross toll-free hotline, 1199, for support.
