On Sunday, a newborn baby boy was discovered abandoned in a residential garbage bin at an apartment complex in Kitengela.
While it was difficult to determine right away whether the infant was alive or deceased, witnesses noted that he appeared to be in good health and might have been delivered just a few hours prior.
Residents reported that a collector of used plastic waste discovered an infant wrapped in a sack while rummaging through garbage.
“The Good Samaritan raised the alarm upon finding the baby, alerting those in the vicinity,” stated Mathew Muthosi, a caretaker at the apartment complex.
“Trash is gathered at this communal spot before being picked up by the town’s garbage truck,” added Muthosi.
A group of mothers who gathered at the scene were left bewildered, many questioning why a mother would abandon a seemingly healthy child.
Erastus Karanja, a 78-year-old elder in the community, spoke about the incident, urging new mothers to consider placing newborns they cannot care for in registered children’s homes rather than discarding them like refuse.
“This is the first occurrence of its kind in our area, and it’s truly heartbreaking. If you cannot care for a child, please reach out to a family member or an adoption center, or seek assistance from the community. Do not throw away a life,” implored Mzee Karanja.
Police from Kitengela arrived at the location and took the newborn to a nearby medical facility, vowing to investigate the matter further.
