A mother is expected to rest and take care of the baby for at least six five months until the baby starts to wean. this ensures that the mother has regained health and strength to embark on normal duties. However, what happened in Kitui East leaves questions lingering in our minds. it remains a lesson to all mothers in the villages.
A three-month-old baby died in Kitui East after she attacked by a baboon in a vegetable garden where her mother was tilling land. the mother had laid the baby under a shade while she got busy tilling, until she could not realize when baboon had attacked the angel.
The baby had sustained serious injuries on the knees and stomach and was rushed to Inyuu dispensary in Ngungi location but succumbed.
According to Thua assistant chief Sammy Makuthu, the baboon may have been hungry when it attacked the sleeping baby.
“We have contacted the KWS officer in charge of Kitui County Joseph Kavi and confirmed that he has received the report and he is heading to the scene to establish more facts,” the chief said on Friday.
The body of the deceased baby has been taken to Kitui Level 4 hospital morgue awaiting a postmortem examination.
Last month, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warned of increased cases of human-wildlife conflict following the prolonged drought season.
KWS said wild animals have started leaving their habitats in search of food and may come into contact with people who live adjacent to them.
“KWS wishes to inform the public that as the dry spell progresses, the risk of human wildlife conflict is expected to increase until the country receives the long rains,” a statement on the KWS website reads.
Areas worst affected include Narok, Taita Taveta, Laikipia, Kajiado, Meru, Mau, Marsabit, Lamu and the Mt. Kenya region.
KWS has however assured the public that foot, vehicle and aerial patrols have been intensified to manage the situation.