Woman who abandoned new-born in toilet arrested

Police in Embu on Friday arrested a woman accused of giving birth at a petrol station and abandoning the baby in a toilet.

Embu East Deputy Police boss Monica Mwania, said the woman was aboard a Nairobi-bound matatu when she asked the driver to stop at a petrol station in Runyenjes town, pretending she wanted to answer to a call of nature.

The woman proceeded to the toilet, delivered and left the baby in the toilet.

She returned to the matatu and continued with her journey as if nothing had happened.

However, minutes later, a guard at the station heard the baby crying in the toilet and rushed there only to find the innocent child placed in a corner.

The guard alerted his colleagues and the matter was reported to the police who drove to the scene, rescued the infant and took it to Embu Referral Hospital.

Ms Mwania said she contacted her colleagues in Murang'a who intercepted the vehicle, seized the woman and locked her up at Makuyu Police Station.

The suspect will be handed over to the Embu criminal investigations officers for questioning.

“The suspect will be arraigned in court to face criminal charges after police are through with investigations," she said.

She warned women against throwing away their new-borns due to poverty.

"If women can't raise their new-borns, they should inform the government and they will be assisted,” she added.