A woman burned her son and two of her co-wife’s children, leaving them with injuries, after they ate a meal of githeri without her permission.
The woman identified as Monica, 35, fled after allegedly committing the offence in Bwabia village, Webuye West, on Monday.
Her co-wife had gone to her parents’ home after disagreeing with their husband, who was also away.
Monica used burned polythene bags in the incident, and left the children with injuries all over their bodies, said Nangeni sub-location assistant chief Samuel Kisuya.
Kisuya said the children – 10 year-old Boniface, eight year-old Erick and Monica’s son Simiyu, four – were rushed to Webuye county hospital where they are receiving their medication.
“This is not the first time this woman has been accused of mistreating these children since their mother left. Neighbors have reported her to me several times,” he said.
He said she had fled to nearby Sango village but was caught by members of the public who handed her over to officers from Webuye police station after beating her up for being arrogant. The woman will be charged in court.
He said that the woman who is also a certain church elder has had issues of harassing the children for a long time and every time she evaded the long arm of law until then.
Kisuya cautioned parents against harming their children following misunderstandings that do not concern them, and disciplinary measures that could be fatal.
The hospital medical superintendent confirmed that they were in stable condition and they could be discharged any day.