Woman Sentenced to 10 years for Murdering Her Child to Travel Abroad

A woman has received a 10-year prison sentence for the murder of her one-year-old son.

She was found guilty of throwing him into a borehole in order to pursue her plans of travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Judge Anne Ong'injo, presiding over the High Court in Mombasa, concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven the case against Happy Mwenda Mumba beyond any reasonable doubt. The judge determined that the accused should face punishment not only as a deterrent to potential offenders but also to emphasize the sanctity of life and the fact that her son possessed a constitutional right to it.

Justice Ong'injo further emphasized that the accused must comprehend that she does not possess the authority to take a life, as she is unable to even create something as insignificant as a strand of hair. Justice Ong'injo acknowledged that the accused opted for her convenience over an innocent child's life, resulting in his demise. This heinous act was driven by her selfishness, as getting rid of her son was the simplest way for her to travel to the UAE. The court noted that the accused saw the child as an obstacle, prompting her to eliminate him.

According to her ruling, the accused failed to refute the certainty of her guilt in the tragic death of her one-year-old son. Though the accused refrained from making an official statement during trial, the prosecution's evidence was ample enough to hold her responsible for the fatal incident. With the child being entirely reliant on the accused for care and protection, the judge highlighted that she remained accountable for his safety.