A six-year-old boy from Sameta village in Gucha Sub-County is nursing injuries at the Kisii Level Five Hospital after his mother allegedly burnt him for eating food she had kept for dinner.
The boy, who spoke to Hivisasa from his hospital bed, said he ate the food because he was hungry, a reason his mum could not buy.
“When my mother realised that I had eaten the food, she beat me up before tying my hands with a rope. She then poured kerosene and lit a matchstick," the boy explained.
"I yelled in pain before neighbours came to my rescue," added the boy.
A neighbour, Hope Sigara, said they heard the boy crying for help and rushed to the house only to find him burning.
Sigara said it was not the first time for the woman, as they are used to hearing the boy yelling while being beaten.
She said they reported the incident to the police and area chief.
The area chief Zacharia Onwong’a confirmed the incident and added that the suspect is still at large. He said they have launched a manhunt for her.
According to the hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Julius Mokaya, the boy was brought in by good Samaritans on Sunday and is currently undergoing treatment.