The actions of a 62-year-old impoverished mother of six in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, have left many bewildered. In an attempt to address her dire financial situation and an outstanding debt of KES 480, she resorted to giving her children and grandchildren Piriton medicine to suppress their hunger. Piriton, also known as chlorphenamine, is a sedating antihistamine.
Jane Naliaka, also known as Mama Mboga, earns a living by selling vegetables. Along with her siblings, she recently experienced a close brush with death after misusing Piriton for two days without consuming any food. Fortunately, their neighbors came to their rescue.
Naliaka’s debt of KES 480 was owed to a friend, which she had borrowed to cover the medical expenses of one of her grandchildren. Due to her inability to make timely repayments, the debt continued to grow.
The excessive sleeping of Naliaka’s brothers for two consecutive days surprised the local community. Naliaka, who is also referred to as Mama Dorica, explains that the high cost of living has made it unbearable for her to provide food for her siblings.
She described her family’s plight, stating that they had been going without food for several days. Naliaka is a mother to six children and also cares for her deceased daughter’s five children, some of whom are still very young. In the morning, she would provide them with plain hot water without sugar, but many times they would go without any food.
Naliaka, a distressed woman, admitted to administering Piriton to her children and grandchildren to induce sleep and temporarily alleviate their hunger. She did this because they used to cry incessantly for food. She narrated the story of one grandchild, whose mother had passed away, persistently asking to be taken to her mother, despite being told that she had embarked on a long journey.
Naliaka, who sells vegetables in Makutano Township, not only owed her friend money but also had her stock worth KES 3000 confiscated as a result. Her friend, who lent her the money, took her tomatoes and even involved the police, making life even harder for Naliaka.
As a single mother residing in a rented single-room dwelling, Naliaka is now unable to pay rent for six months. She emphasized that her children’s education has also suffered due to the effects of the medication. They can only attend school for a maximum of three days a week because Piriton often leaves them feeling dizzy. Naliaka has been unable to pay their school fees as well.
She appeals to well-wishers, including the Governor, MP, senator, and her friends, to come to her aid. Furthermore, she challenges the Kenyan government, particularly President William Ruto, to intervene and assist struggling mothers like herself who find themselves at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
A concerned neighbor, Charles Lokwachai Panyako, witnessed the distressing situation and attested to the dire circumstances the mother and her family were facing. He was shocked to find Mama Dorica in possession of multiple Piriton tablets, which she was giving to her children to induce sleep and forget about their hunger. During the day, they would only have porridge along with the Piriton.
Panyako pointed out that poor Kenyans are now unable to afford even a hundred shillings. Previously, with KES 100, one could purchase a quarter of sugar. Mama Mboga earns KES 100 a day, which makes it extremely difficult for her to maintain a balanced life. She takes three Piriton tablets and gives two to each child.
Mama Dorica gave her children the medication for two consecutive days, causing them
