Ruai househelp freed of murder allegations, says reputation was destroyed

Joyce Onyango, a former househelp in Ruai who was accused of poisoning her employer’s four-year-old child following a salary dispute, has been cleared of murder allegations.

The incident was first shared by Nairobi County official Geoffrey Mosiria, whom Onyango has since criticised for casting blame before investigations were concluded.

Speaking during a livestream on TikTok, Joyce addressed the Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, saying: “Na Mosiria mahali ulipo please, mbona ulinifanyia hivo? Mbona ulinianika hivyo kama hujadhibitisha kweli ni muuaji?”

She said the allegations had caused immense damage to both her and her family.

Joyce revealed that she is currently staying with her sister after losing her home, while her children remain stranded upcountry.

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“Umeniharibia hata sina mahali pa kukaa, sina anything. Nakaa kwa sistangu na watoto wangu wako stranded ushago. Mosiria mbona ulinifanyia hivo?” she said.

Fighting back tears, Onyango said she had court documents confirming her release and maintained that she had been innocent all along.

“Barua ya korti inadhibitisha ya kwamba niliachiliwa. I am very innocent,” she said.

In an earlier video report shared by Mosiria, the child’s mother, Anne Wanjiru, explained that she had hired the nanny through a local agency.

According to Wanjiru, they had agreed that the househelp would be paid Sh6,000 on the third day of every month.

“Our agreement was that she would be paid on the 3rd because that is when she started working. On Friday, she called and demanded her salary immediately,” Wanjiru said. “When I told her I had not yet been paid myself, she told me to pick my child from the neighbour because she was quitting.”

Wanjiru said she rushed home to pick up her daughter that night, but immediately noticed the child was unwell.

“She kept complaining of stomach pain and even vomited when I tried to feed her,” she recalled. “I managed to put her to sleep at around 9pm, hoping she would feel better.”

The child’s condition reportedly worsened later that night.

“At about 11pm, I checked on her and found her cold and unresponsive. That is when I knew something was terribly wrong,” the mother said.

With the help of a neighbour, the child was rushed to RFH Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Following Joyce’s remarks about the ordeal, Kenyans on social media shared mixed reactions.

On Instagram, one user, Maximus, wrote: “They actually should be sued for the damages they have caused her.”

Another user, Mbugua D, added: “She deserves more than an apology.”

A third user, Sharon, commented: “Reasons why we should listen to both sides of the story. Now her reputation is ruined.”