A convict serving time at Lang'ata Women's Prison on Friday recounted her unfortunate experience of landing in prison after leaving her baby at a daycare centre for two days.
In an interview with Inooro TV, the woman, identified as Teresia, noted that her woes started in 2023 after she was locked out of her house by the apartment's caretaker.
Teresia, who had left her baby at daycare, decided to look for funds to pay for the rent, an amount she did not disclose.
"My father is an alcoholic while my mother is sick and can't work. On the other hand, my boyfriend deserted me when I got pregnant so I had no one else to turn to," she noted.
"At the time, I was hustling and looking for rent as my house was locked by the caretaker."
According to Teresia, she hustled and acquired enough cash to pay the caretaker who later granted her access to the house. The following day, she went to the daycare centre to pick up her child, thinking that everything would run smoothly.
"I went to the daycare centre, I had paid the owner to take care of my baby for two days."
"As I waited to receive my baby, two police officers appeared out of nowhere and placed me in custody at Mwiki Police Station," she highlighted.
Teresia was charged with child neglect which contravenes Section 20 of the Children Act. The law stipulates a fine of up to Ksh50,000 or 12 months in jail or both for persons found guilty.
The matter would then head to court. After months of court proceedings, she was found guilty and ordered to serve one year at the Lang'ata Women's Prison.
"Life in prison is very hard as I don't know how my child is faring. I appeal to the baby's father to take up responsibility and fend for our only child. I have no one else to turn to so I plead to ensure our child is looked after," Teresia pleaded.
