Two women lay claim to one baby in Bungoma County

Elizabeth Nafula (left) and Elizabeth Wamboi. The two women are laying claim to a seven- day old baby boy.  [PHOTO: robert wanyonyi/STANDARD]

By Robert Wanyonyi

KENYA:  Police are investigating claims by two women who allege to have given birth to the same child.

The two, Elizabeth Nafula and Elizabeth Wamboi, are each claiming to have given birth to the young boy at Chebosi village last week with Nafula naming him Isaac while Wamboi named the toddle Dennis.

Wamboi on Monday appeared before Webuye Presiding Magistrate Stella Abuya where she denied that on August 25, this year at Chebosi village within Bungoma County, she allegedly stole the infant from Nafula and went ahead to wrongfully inform the police that the boy was hers.

But after police used a caregiver from Ace Africa, an organisation dealing with children, to establish the real mother of the boy, it was established that while Nafula managed to breastfeed her child without any problem, Wamboi was forced to feed the infant on porridge made from a mixture of sorghum, millet and milk.

“We arrested Wamboi because even the documents found on her bore her expected date of delivery to be somewhere in April this year when the birth happened early last week,” said Webuye East OCPD Willy Simba.

In a matter that is suspected to be a case of illegal adoption, Simba explained that police are also investigating the circumstances under which Wamboi came to have custody of two more girls all of whom she claims to have given birth to even after doctors confirmed that she’s barren.

Breastfeed

When The Standard caught up with Nafula, she was at a local children’s home where she has been allowed to breastfeed her child at least six times every day.

“Wamboi was my friend and she used to accompany me whenever I went for pre-natal care. Surprisingly, all the documentation regarding the pregnancy in the nine months were written in her name,” said Nafula.

Wamboi was given a Sh200,000 bond with a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Sh100,000.

The case will be mentioned on the September 9, with the hearing set for November 12.