Nyeri woman sentenced to three years for setting 10-year-old son on fire

A mother who set ablaze her 10-year-old son on suspicion that he had stolen her Ksh.100 has been handed a three year non-custodial jail term.

Elizabeth Ngina, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of assault, causing grievous bodily harm on the class three boy on March 20 this year at Equator village in Nyeri County.

The court was told that on the material day, the boy had been sent to a nearby shop to buy some household items but when he returned he misplaced a 100 shillings note he had been given as change by the shopkeeper.

Ngina became agitated, picked a bottle containing kerosene and doused him with the flammable liquid before lighting a match stick and setting him on fire.

The minor was rescued by his 14-year-old brother who removed the burning clothes and then sought assistance from an uncle to take him to hospital. He sustained burns on hands, abdomen and ears.

In mitigation, Ngina said she was remorseful and sought for forgiveness arguing that she was only disciplining her son and had no intention of harming him.

Principal Magistrate Waititu Gichimu, while passing the sentence, said he had considered a report by the probation officer that called for a non-custodial sentence against the offender.

Mr Waititu also directed the Laikipia Children’s department to organize for counselling sessions for the injured minor.