A Kisumu court has sentenced a woman to a three-year non-custodial term after she admitted to killing her six-month-old son.
The sentence, which includes mandatory psychiatric treatment, was delivered on Wednesday, July 16. The woman, Sarah Anyango, was found guilty of manslaughter after entering a plea deal with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The court accepted the agreement and considered her mental illness when deciding the punishment.The incident happened on May 10, 2024, at Kanyaranga village in Seme Sub-county, Kisumu County.
According to witnesses, Anyango, who seemed mentally unstable, was seen attacking her son, Joseph Calvins Omondi. The child suffered serious injuries and later died. A post-mortem conducted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital showed disturbing details.
The baby had multiple severe injuries, including the removal of his left eye, burn injuries on his right foot, complete skin removal from his left foot, swelling on the face, and signs of strangulation.
The doctors confirmed that the child died due to these injuries.During the court proceedings, the prosecution led by Mercy Muema accepted the seriousness of the crime. However, they also pointed out that the woman’s mental state required urgent medical attention.
Muema told the court that this case shows how important it is to handle mental health carefully when it comes to criminal cases. She explained that treating the woman would not only support her but also help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The defense lawyer, Okoth Oluoch, told the court that Anyango was not mentally fit at the time of the killing. He said she deeply regrets what happened and that she has been receiving treatment at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.
According to him, her condition has improved since her arrest and she has become more stable.
He asked the court to consider her treatment journey and mental status when giving the sentence.Justice Omido J. agreed to give a non-custodial sentence, meaning the woman will not go to prison but will remain under strict monitoring.
He directed that she be supervised by the Makadara probation office for three years. She will continue with psychiatric care and remain under close watch to ensure she does not pose any risk to herself or others.
The judgment highlights the growing recognition of mental illness in Kenya’s legal system. While the death of a child is tragic and painful, the court chose to balance justice with compassion by focusing on treatment rather than punishment.
The hope is that Anyango’s continued treatment and supervision will prevent such incidents from happening again.
