Mental test for mother of baby with needles in her backside
A Thika court on Monday ordered a mental assessment test on Ms Jacinta Ndung’e, the mother of the child who was found with 14 needles in her body.
Ms Ndung’e and her husband Isaac Gichura were last week charged with subjecting their child to torture. However, they denied the charges.
The court also ordered that they be denied bond so that they do not interfere with witnesses owing to the fact that they are the primary care givers of the victim.
Resident Magistrate Brenda Bartoo directed that Ms Ndung’e’s health be assessed and a probation report issued to the court before December 19, when the case will be mentioned.
State counsel Beatrice Kariuki had requested the court to order the assessment before the hearing starts.
The 10-month-old baby was found with 14 needles lodged in her backside while undergoing treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting at Thika Level Five Hospital last month.
She was booked into Macheo children’s home last week.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that contrary to previous reports, the children’s office is yet to rescue the family’s other three children for safe custody.
According to Thika children’s officer Rebecca Kariuki, they are trailing the children’s stepmother, who is said to have run away with them.