This archive report was first published on 7 January 2020.
On Monday evening, a tragic incident occurred in Rorok village, Kaptebengwet location in Konoin constituency, Bomet county. A 20-year-old woman, Sharon Chepkoech, allegedly strangled her five-month-old baby, Cynthia Cheptoo, and spent the night with the body.
According to the police, Chepkoech was arrested alongside her boyfriend, who is helping with investigations. The body has been moved to Kapkatet sub county hospital mortuary in Kericho county for preservation before a postmortem is undertaken and subsequent release to the family for burial.
It is alleged that Chepkoech killed the infant at around 5pm and hid the incident from her boyfriend, whom she spent the night with alongside the body. The boyfriend reportedly thought their child was alive but asleep, but when the child did not respond in the morning, he got alarmed and upon checking found the body was lifeless.
He raised an alarm attracting neighbours who called in the police leading to the arrests. Chepkoech has admitted to the police that she killed her child because of 'harsh economic times'. Cases of postpartum depression among new mothers are common in Kenya.
As reported by the Konoin sub county police commander, Mr Alex Shikondi, 'The woman has been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation in connection with the incident.'
