Law enforcement officers have taken the woman who allegedly threw her 8-month-old baby into the Indian Ocean at Mombasa County’s Likoni Ferry on Sunday, December 3 at the Ferry Police station for questioning.
The police said the child is recuperating fairly at the Red Cross rescue centre as the mother is being interrogated for information.
“[She] was rushed for first aid at the Red Cross Centre, treated and discharged in fair condition and her mother taken to the police station for interrogation,” the police report read.
In a video that has since gone viral, the coast guards in collaboration with bystanders and divers are seen acting promptly to save the infant.
In a statement on Sunday, December 3, the Kenya Red Cross said the infant was safe and at the rescue centre.
“Heroic intervention at the Likoni ferry crossing. An 8-month-old child, miraculously saved after a distressing incident in the Indian Ocean, is now safe at the Kenya Red Cross rescue centre. Thanks to swift action and our heartfelt gratitude to the rescue team,” Kenya Red Cross said.
The distressing incident has ignited fury among residents, with many demanding legal action against the mother for her appalling actions.
Child laws in the Penal Code
Infanticide, as defined in the Penal Code, refers to the act of a mother causing the death of her child below 12 months.
In such cases, some women have faced severe consequences, including public lynching.
Section 210 of the Penal Code treats infanticide as manslaughter, and according to section 202, anyone causing the death of another person through an unlawful act or omission is guilty of this felony.
The punishment for infanticide aligns with that of manslaughter, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
However, some women get lucky and get shorter terms after courts associate the crime with Post-Partum Depression (PPD).
PPD is a mood or mental disorder that can affect some people after childbirth. It involves feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion.
