Shock and grief have engulfed parts of western Kenya following separate violent incidents in Busia County and Bungoma County that left a 12-year-old boy dead and a county health officer seriously injured.
In the Busia incident, detectives arrested a 33-year-old woman over the suspected murder of her son in Teso South.
According to police, the matter came to light after the woman and her husband reportedly visited a local chief’s office seeking a burial permit for the child.
Authorities said the area chief became suspicious after inconsistencies allegedly emerged in the couple’s explanation regarding the boy’s death, prompting further investigations.
Preliminary findings indicate that the deceased, a Grade Six pupil at St Thomas Chakol Boys Primary School, had earlier been summoned to school together with his mother over allegations that he had stolen money from another pupil.
Police said the matter was reportedly handled by the school administration before the child returned home appearing healthy.
Investigators now allege that later that evening, the child’s biological mother assaulted him after revisiting the matter at home.
The following day, the boy reportedly died while being rushed to Alupe Sub-County Referral Hospital.
Officers who later visited Alupe University Mortuary said the child’s body had visible injuries on the head, hands and legs.
Police further claimed that a mortuary attendant informed detectives that the child’s mother and stepfather had allegedly instructed him not to allow other people to view the body.
The woman has since been arrested and detained to assist with investigations as detectives await a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the separate Bungoma incident involving the county health officer.
