Police investigating mysterious death of 2-year-old boy

Kisumu, Kenya: Police in Kisumu have launched investigations into an incident in which a two year old baby died mysteriously in his parents' house.

With the preliminary medical examination indicating that the baby was electrocuted, area police said a post-mortem results to be released on Monday will give the police a clue into the incident.

The parents; Martin Okoth and Jackline Odhiambo on Saturday tried to conceal the incident which happened in the evening at Nyalenda Western Estate.

A neighbour who suspected that the parents wanted to conceal the incident called journalists who rushed to the scene.

On arrival of the press , Okoth mobilized a group of youths who barred them from accessing the compound, threatening to smash the equipment and the journalists' van.

"Who called you here? This is a normal death like any other and we know how we will handle it without the media so can you disappear from here before it turns to a war," warned Okoth.

The curious onlookers watched from a distance as few family members exchanged bitter words with the journalists who tried to convince them on why they had come to the scene.

The journalists then informed the police who arrived in a short while and forced their way into the compound and demanded to pick the body which was still lying on the floor.

A few exchange of words then ensued between the police and members of the family who insisted that the body must not be taken by police.

"I am the parent to the baby and we have not called the police. We will handle the matter as a family hence we will not let you take the body away," Okoth told the police.

The officers had to apply force to have the parents accompany them to New Nyanza General Hospital Mortuary and later to Central Police Station where they recorded statements over the incident.

"We have come as officers and we have to go with the body and we are not ready to argue over it," said one of the officers.

Ms Odhiambo told the police that she was outside her house when her sister screamed inside the house prompting her to rush in to check what was happening.

She then found the baby lying lifeless next to an extension connected to the socket.

"I think he was trying to play with the extension and that is when he got electrocuted," said Odhiambo.

On Sunday, County Police Commandant Nelson Njiiri said police were waiting for the post-mortem report so as to ascertain the cause of death.

"The preliminary medical report indicates electrocution but let us wait for the post-mortem report. We are also looking into the instances under which the electrocution could have occurred," he added.