Residents of S A area in Webuye town were left in utter disbelief after they discovered a fourteen year’s old disabled boy hidden by its mother in their house for the past five years.
Elizabeth Akiru, 45 and a mother of two had hidden her crippled son in a room in her house without food forcing the child to feed on his own stool.
Drama unfolded at the woman’s house as residents and neighbors wanted to lynch her for having locked the lame boy in the house without proper food and care and concentrated in taking illicit brew.
The residents gave her a proper beating and undressed her while hurling abuses at her for having neglected the child.
They demanded to know why the woman had done such a beastly act on the young innocent boy by letting him live in a very unhygienic environment and not access to the outside world.
The woman’s husband whom neighbors said was a renowned drunkard was not at home as the incident unfolded.
Neighbors said that they had lived with the woman for a while now and had never known that she has another child but only knew one of her children.
Neighbors said that they were informed about the woman hiding her son by a nearby neighbor who noticed something fishy.
Area chief Misiko Barasa said that residents of the area have been known to have such behavior of hiding their lame children in their houses.
He warned that anyone found hiding a disabled child will be arrested and jailed.
Rebecca Namukhosi Khaemba who represents the disabled in Webuye condemned the incident and appealed to the relevant authorities to pick up the matter and ensure the woman is brought to book.
“We are wondering what type of a mother can do this to her child even if its crippled this is very inhuman of her and we want firm action taken against her to serve as an example to others,’’ she said.
Rebecca warned parents across the county who might be doing the same to their disabled children to stop and ensure they bring them out for assistance instead of locking them indoors.
She said that no one chooses to be born lame and even the disabled deserve to be treated with
respect and shown love so that they can feel part of the world.
The woman was taken by police officers to Webuye police station and will be arraigned in court once investigations are done.