KWALE: Mother Burns Child For Stealing KES 50 To Buy Food

image source: catawiki.co.uk

A mother accusing her son of stealing KES 50 tied pieces of mattresses to his hands, doused him with kerosene and set him on fire.

The woman from Kwale admitted to committing the offense on Wednesday, saying she decided to punish the boy as his behaviour was "unbecoming".

"That was the only punishment which can make my child change,” said the woman from Karanja village.

Neighbours who responded to the nine-year-old's cries for help said they found his mother watching him burn.

“We rushed him to Kwale Hospital and alerted police to arrest the mother because what she did was inhumane,” one said.

The boy's father joined residents in taking him to hospital but the woman, who was arrested, insisted that he stole.

“I found the money at the door, took it and went to the market to buy something to eat because I was feeling hungry,” the boy said.

Nurse Catherine Ndoro said he was seriously burned but is out of danger.

The woman is being held at Kwale Police Station pending assault charges.

- The STAR