A 19-year-old woman, along with her parents, was arrested on Sunday in Machakos County for allegedly abandoning a newborn in a pit latrine.
The arrests occurred after officers from Kaewa police station responded to reports of an infant found in a latrine within the family’s homestead in Kyondoni village, Kivaa location, Yatta subcounty.
According to area assistant chief Ruth Ndeto, the woman gave birth on Saturday and subsequently disposed of the infant in the latrine.
Following the discovery, police conducted an investigation that confirmed the woman had indeed given birth and disposed of the newborn.
The suspects are currently assisting authorities with the investigation and remain in custody at Kaewa police station, awaiting arraignment at the Kithimani law courts.
The woman’s parents claimed she had gone to relieve herself when the infant accidentally fell into the pit, a narrative that Ndeto dismissed as untrue.
This incident has raised concerns about maternal health and the safety of newborns in the region, prompting local authorities to emphasize the importance of seeking help during crises.