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In a rare case of recognition, Kisii Senior Resident Magistrate, Christine Ogweno has lauded a social worker and caregiver for supporting Baby Brighton Sagini whose eyes were gouged.

 The magistrate singled out Josephine Karimi, whom she said had demonstrated unmatched love and magnanimity by taking care of four-year-old Sagini his sibling, Shantel Kemunto, 8, at an undisclosed Safe House.

 Ogweno spoke during the hearing of a case in which three relatives of the boy, Rael Nyakerario Mayieka (grandmother), Pacificah Nyakerario (aunt) and Alex Maina Ochogo (cousin) have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm too Sagini contrary to Section 4 of the Penal Code. “I thank you Josephine and may God bless you. It is hard to live with the two children, especially, Sagini” the Magistrate said. Karimi is a social worker and Caregiver at Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK).

 Echoing her sentiments, the head of prosecution Hilary Kaino said Karimi deserved recognition from the government and be awarded medals for her exemplary work.

Eyes gouged

 On Friday, Sagini, who was attacked on December 13, last year, told the court the grandmother gouged his eyes out with her bare hands and dumped him in a maize plantation. The disclosure came in a virtual  court hearing.

 The incident occurred at Ikuruma village, Marani Sub County, Kisii County between December 12 and 13, 2022. The trio, represented by Lawyers Kerosi Ondieki and Violet Moguche, have denied the charges.

 Karimi had told the court that the two children were traumatized and distressed when she received them at their rescue centre.  She said they could not cope with caregivers and other children, noting, they used to insult other children in ‘Ekegusii’ language.

  Kemunto, she told the court, used to beat other kids and never wanted to associate with her brother. The caregiver said the two children were given psychosocial support, embraced Kiswahili, improved and are coping well with other children and caregivers.

 “They were violent. It showed that they were living in a violent and abusive environment. They are now emotionally stable and are doing well” Karimi informed the court.

Medical report

Kemunto testified via video link that when they went to the river to fetch water on December 12, Sagini lost his jerrican and went to look for it but never showed up home.  She said on the following day, she informed their grandmother that Sagini had been found dumped in the plantation but the granny chased her away.

  “Family members found him and police officers came and took him to hospital for treatment,” Kemunto told the court virtually from their Safe House.

 Daniel Nyameino, a clinical officer at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital testified he received a medical report on December 29 last year from Rioma Station which indicates that he had been attacked by unknown people on December 13.

  “The eyes were gouged, eyelids dark and had bruises and there was leakage like an ointment from the eyes. I separated eyelids and mounted a bandage on it. He had scratch marks with severe injuries ostensibly caused by more than one person,” Nyameino told the court.

  The witness said the boy was taken to Kisii Eye Hospital, where his eyelids repaired and medics recommended he be taken to a School for the blind since his eyes were permanently damaged.

  Lawyer George Morara appears as an interested party for Kisii County government, Anita Nduhukire represents Sagini and his sister Kemunto while Kaino leads the prosecution. Reports indicate that former Nairobi Governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Kitutu Chache North MP, Japhet Nyakundi had organized to airlift Sagini to Dennis Lam Hospital, Southern China for eye implant in vain.

 An ally of Nyakundi, tasked to take Sagini to Nairobi to be airlifted to China said he was taken from Kisii Eye Hospital to Kisii Children’s Home and a government Safe House without the knowledge of Sonko and the lawmaker.

“There was no coordination. I think the government wanted to protect the child and that is why he was not taken to China” the source, preferring anonymity, told People Daily on phone yesterday.

The case will be heard on 17 and 24 this month.