Mother abandons week-old baby boy in hotel

A week-old baby boy was on Sunday morning abandoned by his mother at a hotel on the outskirts of Nakuru town.

According to police, the woman registered herself as Jane Kamau when she checked into the hotel at the weekend claiming she was in transit.

"The mother, in her early 20s, booked a hotel room on Saturday around 9pm to spend the night before continuing with her journey in the morning," said a police officer.

The officer said on Sunday at around 8am, the woman told workers at the hotel in Weavers estate that she was rushing to buy some items from a nearby shopping centre for the baby who was asleep but never returned.

Last time

"The mother woke up very early in the morning, bathed the baby and laid her to sleep while she left claiming she wanted to buy some item from the shops. That was the last time she was seen as she did not return," said the officer.

The baby was Monday handed over to Haven of Hope Baby Centre in Kiamunyi estate as the police began tracking the woman.

Grace Anyango, a social worker at the centre, said they took the baby to Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital where he was screened for infections.

"Though the boy had infections, he was treated and given antibiotics. He is currently doing fine," said Ms Anyango.She said incidents of child neglect in the county were high. The centre accommodates 67 children aged between one day and three years.

"There is high number of children dumped and abandoned in Nakuru that require urgent attention from the authority concerned," she said.