The woman identified as Margaret Kerubo Osindi whose husband had died three years ago is alleged to have picked a quarrel with his 14 year old son over an unknown man who had visited their home on Friday night.
Kerubo allegedly hit Geoffrey Achoka Osindi, who is a class seven pupil at Ratandi Primary School, with a large piece of wood from the back of the head several times and left him lying unconscious after minutes of argument.
Despite hurting him so bad, Kerubo who has since been arrested is said to have ignored his son’s condition and went on to entertain her guest for the night.
When it dawned on Saturday, Kerubo realised that Achoki, who is her eldest son was in bad shape and with the help of other villagers, she rushed him to the nearby Nyamaiya Health Centre where he was pronounced dead.
Angered villagers landed on the woman with a few blows but it took the intervention of area senior chief Duncan Moriasi and Bomabacho sub location assistant chief Livingstone Momanyi to rescue her from the irate crowd who were baying for her blood.
Moriasi removed the woman from the jaws of the mob and hid her in his office that is just adjacent to the health centre as a sombre mood engulfed Nyamaiya trading centre.
Police officers from Nyamira police station led by OCS David Muange later came and arrested the suspect as they carried the body of the slain boy to Nyamira District Hospital Mortuary.
Nyamira police boss Shadrack Maithya who confirmed the incident said Kerubo, who is in custody, would be arraigned in court to answer to murder charges.
“The woman was with unknown visitor and that is when they started quarrelling with the boy before she beat him,” said Maithya.
Speaking to The Standard chief Moriasi added that the dispute between the slain Achoki and her mother has existed for quite a long time.
“The woman drinks a lot of alcohol and always goes home with different men. I have been receiving the reports that they always quarrel with the young boy over the issue,” he said.
The identity of the man she was accompanied with during the incident is yet to be determined but local police are still investigating to find out whether the man was an accomplice in the murder.
The Children Act of 2001 criminalises corporal punishment against a child either at home or at school.
The Penal Code provides for a death penalty if she is found guilty of having committed the criminal offence.
The identity of the man she was accompanied with during the incident is yet to be determined but local police are still investigating to find out whether the man was an accomplice in the murder.
The Children Act of 2001 criminalises corporal punishment against a child either at home or at school.
The Penal Code provides for a death penalty if she is found guilty of having committed the criminal offence.
-Standard Digital
