Father on probation over child’s death

By Antony Gitonga                                    
A Naivasha court has placed on probation a father of sixteen who refused to take his children to hospital on religious grounds leading to the death of one.

Sixty five-year-old James Njuguna was placed on three-year probation by Naivasha Chief Magistrate Stephen Githinji.

The peasant farmer who has two wives was convicted on own plea of guilt after he was charged with seven counts of failing to take his children to hospital while suffering from a notifiable infectious disease.

Njuguna had been charged that between 6th and 16th of August 2012 in Kahuruko village in Naivasha, he failed to notify medical officers that his seven children were suffering from measles.

The court heard how neighbors alerted medical officers over the condition of the minors whose parents had refused to take them to hospital.

According to the prosecution, officers from the public health moved in and rescued six of the children while the seventh was found dead.

The court further heard that for years the family had not sought any medical assistance due to their faith.

In mitigation, the peasant farmer prayed for mercy saying that he had faith that the minors would be healed through prayers.

He alleged to have suffered from cancer and he was healed through prayers after efforts to get treatment from various hospitals failed.

The accused who hails from United Pentecostal church promised that he would henceforth be taking the minors to hospital.

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