Kabarnet: A mother of two, accused of abandoning her 4-year-old minor and failing to provide proper care and protection, has appeared before a Kabarnet court charged with child neglect. Mariam Juma, who receives a monthly stipend from the Inua Jamii programme, is said to be using the money to buy alcohol instead of catering for her children’s needs.
According to Kenya News Agency, Juma was charged that on December 15, 2024, within Kabarnet town in Baringo sub-county, Baringo County, she neglected her child aged 4 years by abandoning and failing to offer proper care as per the parental responsibility required of her. When she was arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM) Purity Koskey, the accused pleaded guilty, claiming that the mistake was due to the fact that she has no place of abode. ‘Your honour, the mistake has been heavily contributed by the fact that I don’t have a place to sleep,’ she said.
The court heard that the minor was found in Kabarnet town late at night, abandoned by the parent, and was taken to Kabarnet Police Station. On the day of her arrest, the court was told that the accused was having a two-year-old son who was taken from her by a relative to spend the night before being transferred to Sunrise Children Rescue Centre within Kabarnet municipality.
Area chief Daniel Kimaliny told the court that the mother receives monthly funds from the Inua Jamii programme, which she uses to purchase alcohol instead of catering for the children’s needs. The court was further informed by a children’s officer, Collins Kosgei, in his report, that the affected minors were in dire need of care and protection.
The children’s officer requested the magistrate to order the two children to remain at the rescue center as they await justice. He added that the children needed medical attention since one of them was feeling unwell. The Magistrate, in her ruling, found that the minors were in need of care and protection and subsequently ordered them to spend 90 days in the rescue center. Koskey further ordered the accused to remain in custody in the interim until February 5, when a ruling will be delivered.