Newborn Baby Survives After 23-Year-Old Mom Allegedly Throws Infant In 80-Foot Pit

A 23-year-old mother was reportedly arrested after allegedly throwing her five-day-old baby into an 80-foot pit latrine in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga County, Kenya.

The mother was apprehended when she went to the Kerugoya, Kirinyaga county, Kenya where the rescued newborn was being treated according to Kirinyaga county commander, Leah Kithei.

"The medics who were attending to her son called the police after she showed up in the hospital. We are now in the process of interrogating her, after which we will present her in court," Kithei stated.

According to the head of fire services in Kerugoya sub-county John Kiama, the baby was dumped in a pit latrine used by tea and coffee farm casuals in one of the homesteads in the area. Workers at the farm were alerted when they heard cries of the child coming from the latrine pit.

They immediately called the farm owner to notify them of the issue. Fire services immediately rushed to the scene to rescue the child.

When they arrived, fire rescuers had to destroy the latrine to get to the child. When they were able to save the infant, they rushed him to the newborn unit at the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital. Per the latest update, the child is responding well to treatment.

Authorities are now calling for a speedy investigation into the matter. It has yet to be known why the mother ended up dumping the child in the pit.

"People need to respect life because life is precious. Why dump an innocent child with no mistake," Kiama stated.

Aside from currently being in the custody of the police, there has been no mention yet on what charges the 23-year-old mother would be facing. Her identity has also yet to be revealed with the investigation ongoing.