Mother demands Sh100,000 to breastfeed her own baby

Police in Makongeni area on the outskirts of Thika town have arrested a 25-year-old woman who abandoned her four months old baby and refused to breastfeed her unless she is paid Ksh100,000 by her husband.

Ms Faith Nyokabi abandoned her four months old baby at her matrimonial home in Kiganjo estate eight days ago and pleas to have her return to her matrimonial home and take care of the child were futile as he insisted she would only do so if paid Ksh100,000 in cash.

Her husband Charles Kirii 36, a casual laborer, says he was called by a neighbour on 1st August who informed him that his wife had taken off and abandoned the infant in the house.

He rushed home and found the baby under the care of neighbours. He says he tried to reach Nyokabi on phone but she did not pick up. Helpless and worried, he bought a packet of milk and with the help of estate women fed the baby as he tried to reach his wife.

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“When she picked my calls, she informed me that she was okay but was abandoning me and my child and was not coming back to me unless I gave her Ksh100,000,” said Kiiri. “I pleaded with her to come and breast feed the baby and that’s when she revealed that her mother had taken her to a local hospital and had her injected with a drug to dry out the milk.”

Kirii explained that he reported the matter to the Thika Children’s Offices and was referred to Murang’a Children’s offices where he intended to take the infant for temporary care at his aged mother’s home.

He said that he did not have any issues with his wife though he had differed with his mother in-law who has been making frequent financial demands.

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According to the Thika Children’s Officer Lina Mwangi, the woman will be charged with child neglect and denying a child protection and care which is an offence in the children’s Act. “I have advised the father to look for a temporary caregiver who can take care of the infant under his watch as the court makes a ruling,” she said.