Woman denies burning son for refusing lunch

A woman accused of trying to kill her son by setting him on fire in Dandora will remain in custody for five days as investigations continue.

Grace Wairimu is suspected of pouring paraffin on the 10-year-old boy and burning him allegedly for refusing to eat ugali and sukuma wiki.

Wairimu was handed over to Dandora police station by the public on March 15.

“Your honour, the victim is admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital with severe burns on the face, chest and hands among other parts of the body. He is in critical condition,” constable Meshack Koskei told the court.

He needed more time for the P3 form to be filled by a medical officer to assess the extent of injury.

Senior principal magistrate Angelo Kithinji allowed the application and remanded the suspect to Dandora police station  until March 26 when the case will be mentioned.

Wairimu is said to have arrived home drunk and prepared ugali with sukuma wiki for lunch. Her son allegedly refused to eat, saying he had eaten the same food for a long time.

She allegedly poured paraffin on the boy and set him on fire, saying she was tired of his behaviour.

The boy's screams attracted the intervention of neighbours, some of whom rushed him to hospital in critical condition. 

Wairimu claims that her son fell into boiling water and denied being drunk. 

Edited by Rosemary Wangui