A middle-aged woman in Kenya was arraigned in a Molo Law Court on Wednesday after allegedly subjecting her nine-year-old daughter to a severe beating that left her with grievous physical and emotional injuries.

The suspect, identified as Tabitha Wanjiru, is accused of mercilessly assaulting the minor, claiming the child had developed a habit of returning home late.

According to witness reports, the girl remained silent whenever questioned by her mother, sparking the violent punishment.

Article 53 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya recognises the right of all children to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, and all forms of violence, inhumane treatment and punishment and hazardous or exploita25. Right to freedom from torture etc.

The law in Article 25 of the Constitution provides that every child entitled to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as provided under Article 25 (a) of the Constitution.

While there circumstances a child may be punished for wrongdoing, the same law calls for reasonable and humane execution of the punishment.

“The assignment of any task or infliction of punishment by way of penalty for any offence committed by a child under any law shall not be construed as a contravention of the right specified in subsection, provided that any such punishment shall be humane and preserve the child’s dignity, and be commensurate with the evolving capacity of the child labour,” it says.

Commenting on the incident, village elder Peter Ngetich said the parents had attempted to conceal the matter by locking up the child to prevent her from sharing her ordeal with outsiders.

“The girl had been locked inside the house, and her cries could only be heard when neighbours happened to pass by. It is fortunate that they intervened in time,” Ngetich said.

The neighbours, upon hearing the child’s cries and pleas for assistance, intervened and rescued her and rushed her to a nearby health facility for urgent treatment before alerting the authorities.

Police have since confirmed that the case has been taken up and that Wanjiru will face charges related to causing grievous harm to a minor. Investigations into the role of both parents in the incident are ongoing.

The neighbours condemned the act and urging parents to seek non-violent methods of disciplining children whenever they do wrong.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Emily Kadzo