Woman kills albino child to avoid bad omen

By KENAN MIRUKA

A woman who killed her four-month-old baby because she was an albino has been sentenced to serve one year in jail by a Gucha court.

Sara Kemunto Nyabuto, 23, committed the offence on August 2, 2010 at Bokimweri sub location in Nyamache district.

Court report reveals the accused claimed her husband had convinced her to kill the baby since she was born with albinism hence a bad omen and a disgrace to the family.

The case complicates the drama surrounding people living with albinism and who have been targeted for occult activities.

In Tanzania cases of albino killings have been on the rise in the recent past as those involved claim, the albinos have magical powers highly sought by magicians.

Kemunto was charged with unlawfully and willfully killing Esther Moraa, the albino child aged four months.

On the said date, Rimoro assistant chief sighted a body floating on a river.

Investigations commenced to establish whose body it was and it later emerged the body

belonged to the accused person

The court heard that the accused killed the baby because her current husband did not sire her.

Died of suffocation

The body was retrieved and taken to Akemo Valley Hospital for an autopsy, which revealed the cause of death to be suffocation.

The accused was arrested and taken to Ogembo Police Station and later charged. Her husband is still at large as he disappeared soon after the body was found.

She admitted the facts and was convicted. Ogembo Resident Magistrate Richard Koech said a

pre-sentence report indicated the accused killed her child for being an albino.

The report further revealed the accused claimed her husband had convinced her to kill the baby since she was born with albinism so she was a bad omen and a disgrace to the family.