Father held over death of disabled son

By ROBERT NYASATO

Police in Kisii are holding a man in connection with the death of his disabled son.

A couple, Ontita Akiba and his wife Jackline Nyandiko, 30, claim the two-year-old died in his sleep at their home in Amariba, Kisii County.

Jackline said she had gone to fetch water on Wednesday at about 4pm and left the child with his father.

"When I came back at around 7pm and inquired about my son, my husband told me he was asleep," she told The Standard in an interview after recording a statement at the Kisii Police Station.

However, the child slept unusually long prompting her to check, only to find him cold.

"I alerted my husband and on close examination we realised he was dead," she said amid sobs, adding that she raised alarm to alert the neighbours thereafter. Jackline said the boy had marks on the abdomen, which looked like someone had beaten him. "When I left he was in good health and playful. He was not suffering from any ailment and I don’t know what happened to him," she added.

Police removed the body to Kisii Level Five Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination. Kisii OCS David Lagwendi said investigation had been launched.