A shocking incident has left many reeling after a one-and-a-half-year-old boy was found with broken limbs, scars all over his body, and starving. The baby is now fighting for his life after being brutally abused by his own mother.
The mother, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, had visited a friend on Sunday, March 5. Her friend noticed that the child was covered in heavy clothes despite it being a hot day. Upon enquiring, the mother claimed that the child was unwell. However, her friend noticed that the child was listless and not moving at all. When the friend uncovered the baby, they noticed broken arms and legs, scars all over the body, and evidence of starvation.
The situation escalated quickly when the mother threw the baby at her friend and fled with her other three-year-old child. The friend immediately called for help, and the injured baby was rushed to the hospital. Usikimye, an organization working to end sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), reports that the child requires urgent surgery as the places where the bones are broken are already rotting, and the child may have gangrene. Further delay may result in the child’s limbs being amputated.
Usikimye also reports that the child’s genitals are swollen, indicating that the mother hit him in that area. The child’s head is full of scars, and there are blood clots in his stomach. This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of the prevalence of child abuse, and the importance of reporting any suspicions of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
The authorities have since arrested the mother, who is in custody pending further investigations. Meanwhile, well-wishers are urged to come together and donate to the child’s cause. Usikimye has set up a pay bill account and Mpesa line for donations.
