Kisii woman sacrifices three-year-old daughter to secure househelp job

Police officers carry away the body of a three-year-old baby from Iyabe River in Kisii County on Tuesday. The baby drowned after her mother hurled her into the river because she wanted to secure employment as a domestic worker in Nairobi. [PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/STANDARD]

Police in Kisii County are holding a woman who is accused of killing her daughter to secure a job as a house help.

The 21-year-old woman from Iyabe village reportedly hurled her three-year-old daughter into the fast flowing waters of River Iyabe on Monday morning, claiming that the baby was ruining her chances of getting the job.

Witnesses said the woman had travelled to Nairobi last month to seek employment as a house maid, which she manged to do in Umoja Estate.

Trouble, however, started when her new employer insisted that she could not work effectively with the baby, as she was tasked to take care of other children.

The 21-year-old was reportedly given fare to take her baby back home before she could report to work.

“She couldn’t find a place to leave the young girl as no relative was ready to take responsibility. And that is why she decided to do away with her as time was moving fast and she was desperate to retain the job,” said a close friend.

The woman is said to have asked several relatives, including her mother, to look after her child, but no one was willing to do so.

She explained that many thought she was just being sly and wanted to abandon the baby and live recklessly in Nairobi.

But some of her close relatives said the suspect was in a hurry to leave for Nairobi on Monday morning after the disappearance of her baby, saying she did not know where the child was.

Her relatives then reported the matter to area chief Benson Machuka and she was immediately apprehended for questioning.

The suspect confessed to the chief and police that she knew where her daughter was but would not state where she had taken her.

“As word spread in the village and people thronged the chief’s office, a villager was heard wailing at the river after spotting the remains of the innocent girl,” said Thomas Nyabaro, a witness.

The chief and villagers secured the scene before police arrived.

The body was found 300 metres from the suspect’s homestead.

The suspect’s mother said her daughter had been troublesome, asking the police to take appropriate action against her.

Police said the girl might have been thrown into the water while still alive because there was no sign of a struggle.

Kisii South OCPD David Mburukua confirmed the incident and said the suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were complete.

“This was an unfortunate incident where a mother is connected to the murder of her own blood. We are waiting for a postmortem report before we can prefer suitable charges against the suspect,” said Mr Mburukua.