Nakuru woman charged with assaulting her daughter

A woman embroiled in a child custody dispute with a doctor was yesterday charged with assaulting her daughter.

The woman is accused of having inserted an object into the private parts of her eight-year-old daughter on July 22 this year at Crater Academy in Milimani Estate, Nakuru.

Acting on a warrant of arrest issued on August 30, 2016, police officers from Nakuru hunted her down and put her in their custody.

The woman denied assault charges when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Josephat Kalo yesterday.

Lawyer Steve Biko applied for her release on reasonable bond terms but the prosecution objected.

Prosecutor Hillary Songoyo told the court that the woman was a flight risk and should be detained, noting she had escaped from police custody before.

He further told the court there was need to ensure the child, who is under her father's care, is safe since she was vulnerable, being minor and a witness in the case.

The child's father, who is a doctor at in Nakuru, has filed another case seeking legal custody of the child. The case is still pending in court.

The prosecutor said the father was fighting for the justice of her daughter.

He said the arrest warrant was issued after the accused deliberately decided not to attend court.

"I object to bond application sought by counsel. The minor here is a witness and has even recorded a statement. The release of the accused poses a danger to her," said the prosecutor.

But Biko said the criminal case raised against her client was meant to frustrate and traumatise her.

He said his client had appeared in court on different occasions, noting that if she indeed was at flight risk, she wouldn't have been available for yesterday's session.

The court, however, ordered that the woman be remanded at the Nakuru GK Prison and have a sworn affidavit presented in court tomorrow before determination of the bond application.