Mother confesses to throwing newborn in pit latrine due to financial constraints

In woman in Kigumo, Murang’a county shocked residents after she confessed to throwing her newborn baby in a pit latrine due to the tough economy as a result of COVID-19.

The woman, who is said to be battling postpartum depression, tried eliminating any evidence that she was pregnant but to no avail.

According to one resident, some of the women around the area who knew she was pregnant went to her house to congratulate her for delivering her baby. The new mother, however, said she did not deliver.

The women who had seen her pregnant decided to probe further into the matter forcing her to confess to dumping the newborn in a pit latrine in a nearby primary school.

A mission to rescue the baby by emergency respondents from the Murang'a County Fire Department started at midnight and the newborn was pulled out of the pit latrine shortly after 1 am.

According to one of the respondents, the newborn was first supplied with oxygen while in the pit latrine as her health was deteriorating.

“The health of the child was diminishing and the very first thing they did, they made sure they supplied the child with oxygen while still at the pit latrine,” said one of the emergency respondents.

She added that the woman should not be punished by going to jail adding that she requires psychological support.

Area residents said the woman, who is also a mother of two, was badly hit the financial implications brought by the pandemic, adding that her actions did not reflect the woman she is.

Speaking on Saturday, May 30, during the COVID-19 press briefing, Health CAS Dr. Rashid Aman acknowledged that they country’s economy has been badly hit.

He, however, said they were confident that the country will overcome the pandemic.

The CAS also announced 147 more people tested positive for COVID-19 bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,888.

CAS Aman also said one more Kenyan succumbed to the disease bringing total deaths to 63.