Business owners and residents of Daraja Mbili Market in Kisii County have been left in shock following reports that the body of a newborn baby was found dumped in a garbage pit at rental houses near the market. The incident reportedly occurred in Kitutu Central Ward, Kitutu Chache South Constituency, where an unidentified woman is alleged to have given birth before the baby was killed and abandoned at the scene.

The discovery has raised concern among residents and traders in the busy market, with questions emerging over the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death and the identity of the mother. According to information from the area, residents suspect that the baby was born and later killed before the body was dumped in the garbage pit.

Eunice Ouru, a resident of Daraja Mbili, said they were shocked by the discovery.

“We woke up in the morning and found the body of a child wrapped in a piece of cloth and dumped in a pit, leaving us shocked since we could not establish the child’s parents. We are wondering who could do this. Women should even give the child to those who are barren instead of carrying a child for nine months and later dumping the child. This cannot be. This woman should be found, arrested and charged. We cannot agree to these bad behaviours,” she said.

Another resident, Daniel Kerongo, a boda boda rider in Daraja Mbili, said they found the baby’s body when they arrived for their usual business activities.

“We came here to do business as usual and found a baby, around nine months old, killed and dumped in a pit. The police came and took the body. Those ladies with children, why should you do this to your children? Give them to those who need children,” he said.

However, the mother’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been independently established at the time of reporting.

Police officers from Nyanchwa Police Station reportedly arrived at the scene and collected the baby’s body as investigations into the incident began. Area residents have committed to assisting authorities in establishing the identity of the baby’s parents.

Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death and determine whether a criminal offence was committed. The incident has renewed concern over the safety and protection of newborns as residents await further information from the police.