Mukuru mother denies leaving four-month-old baby alone while partying

A Mukuru Kwa Njenga mother appeared in court in tears on Wednesday and denied charges that she left her four-month-old baby alone for long periods while she went out drinking.

Nivah Kwamboka denied claims that she locked the baby in the house and spent nights in clubs and drinking dens. She told the court the child’s father had left her without support.

“My husband, who has always been violent with me, dumped me at the hospital. Even my own mother did not come to my rescue. Getting out of the hospital was a real struggle because I did not have enough money,” she said.

According to the charge sheet, Kwamboka is accused of willfully exposing and abandoning the infant, thereby causing unnecessary suffering.

Neighbours alleged that since giving birth she regularly locked the baby alone in the house while going out drinking. They claimed she would spend entire nights in local clubs, return in the morning. The hungry infant would cry herself to sleep.

The baby was taken into safe custody and the mother was charged. She denied the offence and was released on a cash bail of Sh20,000. The case will be mentioned on 14 September for pre-trial directions. 

Elsewhere, a matatu driver operating between Thika and Nairobi’s city centre found himself on the wrong side of the law after applying emergency brakes that slammed a door on a traffic police officer’s finger.

According to court documents, Simon Ndunge is charged with assaulting a police officer who was executing her duties. The charge sheet states that on July 13, 2026, along the Thika Road’s service lane at Roasters, Ndunge “willfully and unlawfully assaulted CPL (W) P.M.”

On the day in question, officers spotted the driver picking up and dropping passengers at an undesignated spot. Ndunge was also not in uniform and was not displaying a badge as required by law. The officers, including the complainant, stopped the vehicle and asked passengers to alight and board another matatu.

Ndunge was then directed to drive to Kasarani Police Station. While en route, he allegedly applied the emergency brakes, causing a door to shut abruptly on the officer’s finger. The driver was arrested, booked, and later arraigned in court.

Ndunge has denied the charges. He was released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or a bond of Sh70,000. Trial begins on January 19, 2027.