Jacinta Ndunge, mother of the baby [Photo|citizen digital]
A court in Thika has directed that mental assessment is conducted on the mother of the child in whose body, doctors at Thika level 5 hospital found 14 needles in the recent past.Beatrice Kariuki, the state counsel involved in the case, argued that since the two accused persons are the primary caregivers of the child in question, and that there were other children under the care of the two accused persons, a mental assessment report for Ndunge was crucial to determine her psychiatric situation.However, Thika Resident Magistrate Brenda Bartoo directed that the two, Jacinta Ndunge, and Isaac Gichure, to remain in custody until December 19 when the case will be mentioned.Ms.Kariuki asked the court that a pre-bail report by the probation officer be issued to her office before the mentioning date. 10-month-old Jane Wairimu was found with 14 needles logged in her buttocks out of which 13 of them were successfully removed.Dr. Andrew Toro, chief officer in charge of health in Kiambu County revealed that they were organising to refer the child to Kenyatta National Hospital for advanced checkup noting that removing the remaining needle could damage body tissues as it is lodged too deep inside the baby’s hip-bone.
The parents of the baby have since maintained that they are unaware how that needles were lodged in their minor.