A middle-aged woman, mother to a 10-month old baby who had 12 sewing needles removed from her stomach has been arrested.
Police arrested Jacinta Ndung’e on Monday at the Hospital where she was with her baby girl.
The infant was taken to Macheo Children’s Home together with her other three siblings.
Thika children’s officer, Ms Rebecca Kariuki said they believe the mother has vital information that could reveal what could have led to the needles being in the stomach of the young girl.
“The mother is the only one who can give information but she is not willing to open up. We shall book the child into a protection home to allow police to conduct investigations,” she said as quoted by Daily Nation.
An X-ray conducted on the baby showed she had about 14 needles on her tummy. An operation was conducted on Saturday by surgeons at Thika Level Five Hospital.
But there was one needle that still remained on her backside and the surgeons said she can live with it as it will not harm her.
Her nerves could be affected if they operate on her in that area.
“There’s no point in removing it. It cannot harm her. We shall, however continue monitoring her from the home,” said Dr Joseph Wanjohi.
Doctors said the needles were rusty, an indication they were there for a while.
But Ndunge has defended herself saying she took good care of the baby.
“I am innocent. The child is mine, can I do that to my own child? Did I just pick on this one to hate and not either of the other siblings? It’s not fair that they want to arrest me but let them go ahead,” she said.
After the X-ray, doctors said there were no marks of penetration bringing the question how the needles ended up on her stomach.