Baby rescued from pit latrine in Kilifi

The infant who was rescued from a pit latrine in Mariakani, Kilifi County. His mother is facing charges of attempted infanticide and concealing birth. PHOTO/KEVIN ODIT

What you need to know:

  • Villagers and the students from the polytechnic were puzzled to hear a baby’s cries from the institute’s pit latrine.
  • One of the students volunteered to enter into the latrine to retrieve the baby.
  • The baby was taken for treatment at the Mariakani District Hospital.
  • The mother is facing charges of attempted infanticide and concealing birth.

Residents of Mariakani in Kilifi County on Friday rescued a baby who had been dumped into a pit latrine in a local polytechnic.

According to the area OCPD Mr David Kerina, the villagers and the students from the polytechnic were puzzled to hear a baby’s cries from the institute’s pit latrine in the wee hours of Friday morning. They then alerted the police.

Mr Kerina said on arrival at the area, he mobilised the students and residents so as to find out if indeed it was a child, insisting that the baby boy whom residents have now nicknamed as ‘Moses’ survived death by a whisker.

Mr Kerina said the bewildered residents stood aside as one of the students volunteered to enter into the latrine to retrieve the baby.

“We dug a hole which could accommodate the two.

RETRIEVED BABY

The student wrapped himself in a polythene bag suit and went into the latrine to retrieve the child. He emerged from the latrine carrying the baby as the residents cheered him up,” said Mr Kerina.

Police washed him and rushed him to hospital for medical care.

“He is a miracle baby after surviving inside a pit latrine for more than 2 hours,” added Mr Kerina.

The baby was taken for treatment at the Mariakani District Hospital.

MOTHER ARRESTED

The mother who is said to be in her early 20s has been arrested by police as she awaits charges of attempted infanticide and concealing birth.

According to the OCPD, the mother, a student at a youth polytechnic in Mariakani, was arrested by the police but due to the pain of giving birth she was released to recuperate.

“She is under our watch as she recuperates in the school dormitory,” the OCPD said.