Shock as Kericho teenage mother butchers her two-month-old baby

KERICHO: A teenage mother shocked a village in Ainamoi constituency, Kericho County after she mercilessly beheaded her two month-old baby in a bizarre incident.

Villagers said the 17-year-old mother committed the heinous crime Thursday night after the baby's father disowned her.

Confirming the incident, Kericho Police Commander Rose Muchuma said the incident occurred at Bagao village and that the man backtracked on a promise to marry the girl.

Muchuma said the young mother had taken advantage of the absence of her parents who had gone to attend to farm chores to commit the offence.

However, her sibling who were around the homestead alerted neighbours who rushed to the scene and arrested and frog-matched her to Ainamoi police post where she was finally transferred to Kericho police station.

"The young girl allegedly beheaded her two months old baby. The circumstances surrounding the action are still unclear but she is in custody and investigations are ongoing with a view of arraigning her in court," said Muchuma.

The body of the decapitated baby was taken to Kericho district hospital mortuary for preservation and post-mortem.

Muchuma appealed to members of the society to give support to vulnerable young mothers who might find themselves in precarious situation after falling pregnant.

"Children are a blessing and the society should support young girls who fall pregnant and may not know what to do after giving birth" she said.

She also asked young mothers to consider giving up their babies for adoption instead of taking drastic action such as murder.