Mother of baby stuck with needles arrested

Ms Jacinta Ndung'e (31) carries her 10 month old baby Jane Wairimu who had 14 needles lodged in her buttocks.

Police on Monday arrested the mother of a 10-month-old baby who was admitted to Thika Level Five Hospital last month with 14 needles in her body.

Ms Jacinta Ndung’e, was arrested at the hospital, while the baby and her three siblings were taken to Macheo Children’s Home where they will stay until police conclude investigations into how the needles found their way into the baby’s buttocks.

Thika children’s officer, Ms Rebecca Kariuki, said they suspect the mother could be holding vital information that would reveal what happened.

“The mother is the only one who can give information but she is not willing to open up. We shall book the child into a protection home to allow police to conduct investigations,” said Ms Kariuki.

The officer confirmed that the child’s siblings aged 17, 12 and six had been taken from their home in Kiganjo and will also be staying at the children’s home.

VOMITING

Thika Level Five medical superintendent Joseph Wanjohi, said the baby was admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting.

It was during her stay that the discovery of needles in her body was made.

An X-ray showed 14 sewing needles lodged in the child’s backside and an operation to remove them conducted.

However, one needle was still lodged in her body as removing it risked harming her nerves and blood vessels.

“There’s no point in removing it. It cannot harm her. We shall, however continue monitoring her from the home,” said Dr Wanjohi.

NEEDLES REMOVED

The needles removed from the baby’s body were rusty, a probable indicator they were there for some time.

Ms Ndung’e insisted that she was innocent and had been taking care of the child alone at her Kiganjo home.

“I am innocent. The child is mine, can I do that to my own child? Did I just pick on this one to hate and not either of the other siblings? It’s not fair that they want to arrest me but let them go ahead,” lamented Ms Ndung’e moments before she was arrested.

Her husband Mr Isaac Gichura said he was shocked to learn of the needles in the baby, but was against his wife’s arrest.