Arrest warrant issued against woman accused of transmitting HIV to an infant

A warrant of arrest has been issued against a woman charged with deliberately transmitting HIV to a nine-month-old baby.

Nakuru Principal Magistrate Joe Omido issued the order yesterday after the woman absconded court.

The suspect, a neighbour of the complainant, and who the prosecution believes is HIV positive, is alleged to have breastfed the baby at Gichobo in Njoro on September 18.

Earlier, the prosecution had made an application to collect blood samples from the accused and the baby to build evidence.

On the material day, the child's mother left him with a neighbour as she ran errands.

Shortly after she left, she received calls from other neighbours who informed her that the woman she had left her son with was breastfeeding him. They claimed she was HIV positive.

The matter was reported at Njoro Police Station who arrested the suspect on September 24.

She remained in custody until October 17 when she was charged with deliberately transmitting HIV to an infant. She denied the charge and was released on a bond of Sh50,000.

Yesterday, the court was packed to capacity with residents who were curious to see who the woman was.

She will be charged with the current count after prosecution failed to submit amended charge(s).