The family of an 11-year-old boy from Bokole village in Magongo, Changamwe, is seeking justice for a son who died after allegedly being forced to drink acid.
Florence Aluoch, 32, said she received calls from neighbours on November 5 that her son was unwell.
The mother of five said she rushed home to find her third-born child Vincent Odunge foaming from the mouth as neighbours watched helplessly not knowing what had transpired.
“I took my child to a village elder to report the matter. The elder directed me to go to the police. I reported the matter at Changamwe police station OB Number 30/5/11/2022. On seeing the condition of the child, they asked me to rush him to hospital,” Aluoch said.
She said an officer gave her Sh200 to take the child to a nearby hospital, where he was examined and given first aid. He was then referred to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The incident is said to have happened after a neighbour, identified as JM, along with his wife and two other neighbours, allegedly beat Odunge after he fought his son while playing.
J M is said to have dragged Odunge inside his house where they beat him up and forced acid down his throat before releasing him.
“When we got him to the referral hospital, he underwent an X-ray to determine the extent to which he had been affected. We were admitted at ward number 10 where he kept receiving treatment until he passed away on November 11,” Aluoch said.
She said she went back to the police station to report that her son had died. The matter has already been referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Changamwe.
J M was arrested last week on Monday and arraigned on Tuesday.
However, he did not take a plea as police asked for seven days to conclude investigations and await for an autopsy report from the government pathologist.
The autopsy was conducted on Monday last week with preliminary reports indicating that the boy may have been forced to ingest hydrochloric acid. The suspect is expected back in court on Wednesday.
“We are awaiting the report to be signed by a government pathologist, but I can confirm the autopsy was conducted last Monday at the coast general hospital,” Francis Auma, a rapid response officer at the Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) organisation, said.
Auma said Muhuri is enjoined in the matter as an interested party to ensure the family gets justice.
However, he cautioned the community to exercise caution and allow the law to take its course promising that justice will be done for the family.
“We have the rule of law, let us allow the police and the courts to do their work. There has been an increase in cases of mob justice within the community,” Auma said.
Efforts to get comments from Changamwe subcounty police commander David Mathiu were unsuccessful.
Mathiu said he was in a noisy place and would get back to the Star with a comment. However, by the time of going to press, Mathiu was yet to respond to our queries.
The mother of the child is now calling for well-wishers to help her offset medical and mortuary bills as she plans to lay her son to rest on December 10.
The hospital bill stands at Sh43,062, while the mortuary bill is Sh25,000.
“All I want is justice for my son. I will also appreciate any help from well-wishers,” Aluoch said.
