Kakamega mother accused of killing her two children

Mourners at the home in Bisinu village, Kakamega County, where two children died after allegedly being fed on a poisoned cake by their mother. [PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA/STANDARD]

KENYA: Grief has engulfed Bisunu village, Shivanga sub-location in Kakamega County after two children aged five and three died after reportedly being poisoned by their mother.

It is alleged that their mother gave them a poisoned cake. The incident attracted residents of Webuye who attempted to storm Webuye District Hospital to "teach her a lesson".

Mrs Winnie Taracha is alleged to have killed her children following a disagreement with her husband whom she accused of having an affair with another woman.

Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Western Moses Ombati said police are yet to confirm whether the children were indeed poisoned.

"The mother is said to have fed her children on cakes. But we cannot immediately confirm whether it was poisoned as we have yet to complete investigations," Ombati said.

He added: It is also a complicated issue because it involves close members of the same family. Such cases are problematic to deal with."

Paul Taracha, the husband of the suspect, denied that he had had a disagreement with his wife.

“It is sad to lose my children. Rumour has it that my wife poisoned the children because of a disagreement but that is not true. On Friday, I went to Webuye hospital with my wife and we were both diagnosed with malaria,” Taracha said.

"Later, we ate chips for lunch, bought meat for super and went back home to watch soap opera. Claims that we had a disagreement are astonishing and defamatory. The society is not good and witchcraft might have pushed my wife to commit the offence, but we are still investigating as someone else could have done it,”

Taracha said he left home at the weekend and when he returned, he found his wife lying on the floor. His children were vomiting and complaining of stomach pain.

“I was confused and had to alert my father who helped in taking them to Webuye District Hospital. One of the children was eating a piece of cake and doctors said the food they ate might have been contaminated or poisoned. I cannot tell the motive behind this as I have been forbidden from talking to my wife but I still want to stay with her," he said.

He revealed that elders have banned him from going back to his house, communicating or staying with his wife and he wants the matter solved and the children buried.

“When I visited the hospital, my wife hugged me and told me she was sorry. The community refusing to allow her back home is unfair,” he said.

The suspect has been transferred from Webuye Hospital to Malava to keep her secure after members of the public threatened to lynch her.

Webuye OCPD Isaac Odumbe has warned residents against storming the hospital.

"Lynching a suspect destroys evidence for prosecution. Crime matters should be handled by police officers," he said.