Newborn baby rescued alive from pit latrine in Nakuru

Bondeni residents helping police to rescue baby from pit latrine. [PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/Standard]

A newborn baby was rescued from a pit latrine Tuesday afternoon by police officers at Bondeni village in Nakuru County after her mother gave birth and disposed her there.

Angry neighbours who nabbed Maureen Agaiza, the mother, claimed they heard a baby crying from the latrine and called the police.

Gladys Nyambura, a neighbor, said it was at 12 noon when she found Agaiza cleaning the latrine which had blood sprinkles on the floor and then heard the baby crying.

"I asked Agaiza where the baby was and she refused to talk but I could hear the cries from inside the latrine and I immediately called the neighbors who came and started digging a hole to save the baby," she said

The 18 year old mother who was a student at one of the colleges in Nakuru said she dropped out of school due to lack of school fees.

Pascal Kiamba the Officer in Charge of Bondeni police station said he was called by a resident of Bondeni who informed him of the incident and immediately rushed to the scene.

"Police with the assistance of the locals dug the latrine and were lucky to save the baby," said Kiamba.

The baby was rushed by the police to Bondeni medical facility for medical attention and would be transferred to Nakuru Rift Valley Provincial hospital for further treatment.

The area OCS said Agaiza was in police custody and will be taken to court once investigations are complete.