A tragic incident unfolded in Koduol ‘B’ village, South East sub-location in Ndhiwa constituency, Homa Bay County, when a 2-month-old baby boy named Sheldon Churchill accidentally fell into a pot of scalding hot porridge.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a heated confrontation between the baby’s mother, 19-year-old Sharon Auma, and approximately 20 members of a self-help group known as Chama. The members of the Chama had visited Sharon’s residence to demand the repayment of a loan amounting to Kshs1,700, which she had taken out, totaling Kshs2,500.
Sharon had managed to clear only Kshs800 of her debt, and during the confrontation, she found herself without any funds to settle the remaining amount. The aggrieved members of the Chama exerted pressure on Sharon, warning that they would confiscate her 16 Koros of dry maize if she failed to repay the debt.
Tensions escalated as the Chama members attempted to forcibly access Sharon’s bedroom where the dry maize was stored. In her efforts to prevent them from entering, Sharon alleged that two women pushed her, causing the baby she was carrying to fall into the boiling porridge.
Tragically, the baby boy, Sheldon Churchill, succumbed to his injuries on the way to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital for medical treatment, as confirmed by Assistant Benson Adongo on Saturday. The community has expressed deep sorrow over this distressing incident, calling for further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death. Condolences have been extended to the grieving family, and the body has been transferred to Manyatta Kobodo mortuary.
