Police in Kirinyaga County have arrested an 18-year-old woman following the circulation of a disturbing video on social media allegedly showing her attempting to suffocate her young daughter using a pillow.
Kirinyaga County Police Commander Anderson Njagi confirmed the arrest, saying officers launched investigations after the video emerged online and managed to trace the suspect.
Njagi said the young mother was arrested on Thursday night and is currently being held at Baricho Police Station as investigations into the incident continue.
Speaking at his office in Kerugoya, the police commander described the incident as shocking, noting that the footage raised serious concerns about the safety and protection of children.
“Yesterday we had a very shocking incident whereby there was a shocking video circulating on social media platforms of a young mother who was trying to choke or cause death by using a pillow on her own young daughter. We have been able to trace the young mother and we have arrested her. We arrested her yesterday at night and we have placed her in custody,” Njagi said.
He further revealed that the child had been rescued through the intervention of the police and the Children’s Department to ensure her immediate safety.
According to Njagi, the suspect is 18 years old and remains in police custody pending her arraignment in court.
“We have realised that the young mother is eighteen years old. In consultation with the Children’s Department we have rescued the child and the mother is in custody awaiting arraignment in court,” he added.
The police commander urged members of the public to respect children’s rights and take their responsibility to protect minors seriously, warning that violations of the law would not be tolerated.
He emphasised that children are an important part of society’s future and must be safeguarded against abuse, neglect and other forms of harm.
Njagi also commended members of the public who brought the video to the attention of authorities and shared information that helped police identify and locate the suspect.
He encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child abuse to law enforcement agencies, saying community involvement was essential in addressing such incidents.
The commander noted that the incident raised broader concerns about child protection in society and called for collective efforts by families, communities and government agencies to safeguard vulnerable children.
Police are working alongside other relevant government departments to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the motive behind the alleged act.
Njagi said authorities would provide further updates once investigations are complete, as the suspect awaits court proceedings.
