An Eldoret court has freed a 23-year-old hawker on a Sh100,000 bond after he was charged with violating the rights of his two-year-old daughter.

Kevin Simiyu, based in Turbo, Uasin Gishu county, was charged with violating the child’s right to healthcare, contrary to law.

According to the charge sheet, Simiyu committed the offence on August 25 in the Besiebor area of Kaptebee location in Turbo sub-county with another suspect not before the court. He is accused that he denied the toddler, coded BW, the right to health and medical care by not taking her to hospital.

Victimised wife

Simiyu, who appeared before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi, denied the charge.
The magistrate directed that the matter be mentioned on September 16 for further directions. Simiyu’s arrest and arraignment came after he was involved in a fight with his wife at the Turbo market two weeks ago.

His altercation with his wife, who is also a hawker at the market, prompted some traders to report the incident at Turbo police station.

Police arrested Simiyu and established that he attacked his wife for revealing that he had denied the child healthcare.

When officers went to the suspect’s rental house at Besiebor estate in Turbo, they were shocked to find that the child had been locked up in the house.

She had bruises all over her body and four of her teeth were missing. “We highly suspect the manner in which the minor was tortured is linked to cultism,” said Turbo sub-county Police Commander Edward Masibo.