By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 27 December 2025 - Police in Runyenjes, Embu County have detained a 22-year-old woman suspected of murdering her two-week-old baby boy in the Magacha area of Kigumo, local authorities confirmed.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday on charges related to the infant’s death.
According to Kyeni East Location Senior Chief John Kareko, the suspect initially reported that her newborn had been stolen by unknown assailants from Kigumo Dispensary.
Authorities, alongside local administrators, responded to the claim by visiting the health facility to verify the account.
They later established that the theft allegation was false, and preliminary police investigations have since focused on the mother’s account and her involvement.
The infant was only two weeks old at the time of the alleged killing, and investigators are piecing together the timeline and motive behind the incident as they prepare formal charges.
Investigators have not yet publicly disclosed the specific circumstances of how the baby was killed pending further inquiry and forensic findings.
Chief Kareko appealed to families and community members to support vulnerable parents, especially young mothers struggling with economic or social pressures, saying that stronger family and community support structures might help prevent tragic outcomes.
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He urged anyone facing emotional distress or caregiving challenges to seek assistance from relatives, community leaders, or local health services.
Cases involving the death of infants often spark broader discussion about maternal support, mental health and child protection in Kenya, where healthcare workers and social activists say early motherhood can be isolating and stressful without adequate support systems.
Kenyan law treats the killing of a child, especially a newborn, as a serious criminal offence under the Penal Code, with courts imposing significant custodial sentences upon conviction.
In similar past cases nationwide, courts have charged adults with murder for the deliberate killing of infants, reflecting stringent legal approaches to crimes against children.
Child protection advocates note that incidents involving the death of newborns may sometimes intersect with postnatal trauma or mental health issues, highlighting the need for greater psychological support and access to health services for new mothers, especially in rural counties.
As the Embu County Directorate of Criminal Investigations continues its work, residents and family members await further updates, including formal charges and any court proceedings in the coming days.
