This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
On June 27th, a tragic incident shook the town of Naivasha when a 42-year-old Kenyan woman, Beatrice Mwende Kimotho, took the lives of her four children. The incident has left the community in shock and grief.
On Thursday, Justice Richard Mwongo made the decision to commit Ms. Kimotho to Mathare Mental Hospital in Nairobi for treatment, citing a mental assessment report that revealed underlying issues and deemed her unfit to stand trial.
The report, presented to a Naivasha court from Gilgil Mental Hospital, highlighted the need for Ms. Kimotho to undergo treatment to address her mental health concerns.
Ms. Kimotho's children, Melody Warigia (8), Willy Macharia (6), Samantha Njeri (4), and Whitney Nyambura (2), were found strangled to death at their home in Naivasha's Kabati estate.
Ms. Kimotho, represented by lawyer Francis Mburu, did not enter a plea, as the report concluded that she was mentally ill and in need of treatment.
The matter will be mentioned in court on September 23rd, 2020, to assess the progress made in her treatment.
The children were laid to rest in an emotional send-off in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, on July 2nd.
