Police in Ndhiwa have arrested and questioned a woman for burning the hands of her nine-year-old son for allegedly stealing money.
The woman accused her son, a Grade Four pupil of stealing money to buy food items in a nearby market.
Neighbours who know the family said the boy has been facing starvation since the woman got a new husband after the boy’s father died.
“The boy probably stole the money to buy food because sometimes his mother denies him food. The woman loves the new husband more than her son,” a neighbour said.
When she was arrested on Tuesday, the woman told police officers that the boy stole even from their neighbours despite several warnings.
The arrest came after security officers received information that the woman locked the boy indoors after burning his hands for allegedly stealing Sh50.
The burning incident occurred on Thursday last week.
Lower Kayambo location chief Cyprian Obonyo said they arrested the woman and took her to Ndhiwa police station.
The woman has a one-month-old baby she bore with the man who inherited her.
“A neighbour informed me about the incident and we responded immediately. His colleagues revealed to a neighbour that the boy is kept inside their house after being burnt for stealing money,” Obonyo said.
At the police station, the boy said that his mother tied his hands using a piece of cloth and poured kerosene before setting them on fire.
