A 42-year-old woman was on Tuesday arraigned in before a Nakuru court to answer to charges of deliberately transmitting HIV to a nine-month-old baby.
Susan Njeri was accused of allegedly breastfeeding the infant with full knowledge that she was HIV positive.
The court heard that on September 18 at Gichobo area in Njoro sub-county, the accused person allegedly breastfed her neighbor’s baby.
On the material day, the mother of the infant, Priscilla Ndung’u left her baby in the care of the accused person as she went to the posho mill.
Priscilla was aware that the accused was HIV positive but she trusted her because they were good friends and good neighbors.
The Prosecution led by Sandra Kosgei told the court that while the mother was away, the child started crying and the accused resorted to breastfeeding the infant in a bid to get the baby to calm down.
Neighbors who witnessed the incident and were aware of Njeri’s condition immediately alerted the mother and she rushed home and confronted her on the matter.
The accused person, however, denied the allegations prompting Priscilla to report the matter at Njoro Police Station.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Kosgei filed an application to have the accused detained to allow police complete their investigations.
Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido granted the application and ordered for the accused to be detained pending the next case hearing.
Magistrate Omido further directed that the accused be accorded with medication if need arises.
The case will be mentioned on October 2.
#bizarre