By Enock Okong’o
Kisii County Governor Simba Arati has appealed to the police to hasten investigations that may lead to the arrest of culprits who kidnapped and gouged the eyes of a three-year-old boy on Thursday, December 15.
Arati, who was flanked by Leah Ogega and Eric Miyienda, County Executive Committee Members of Health and Sports respectively, visited the tormented boy at Kisii Eye Hospital while questioning the motivation behind the attack which left the minor’s eyes gouged out.
“The police must do quick investigation and establish the motive behind this heinous attack and arrest the suspects,” he said.
According to the boy’s grandmother Rachael Nayieka, her grandson Junior Sagini had gone to fetch water from a river near their Ikuruma home in Marani when the misfortune befell him.
Trouble started when his mates saw him throw a jerrican down and ran towards a maize farm in the early evening hours.
They reported the matter to the villagers who began to search for the boy and found him lying in a neighbouring farm six hours later albeit with his eyes gouged out and face full of blood.
Marani Police Station officers rushed the boy to Kisii Eyes Hospital where he is still undergoing treatment.
The Hospital CEO Dr. Daniel Kiage said that the boy was responding well to medication adding that he will be discharged soon but confirmed that he had lost his sight completely.
“He will recover and continue with his normal life although he will take a long time to adapt to the new life of inflicted blindness,” he said.
The doctor expressed fear of releasing the boy to his home saying that his life could still be in danger because of the worsening relationship between him and his close relatives.
He appealed to the police to provide protection for the minor and his elder sister whom he said was allegedly facing molestation from their father after separating with their mother.
Kisii County police boss Mutungi Musyoki said that the victim’s father Mr. Thomas Ongaga had been probed to assist the police with additional information.
“We are interrogating him over this bizarre incident,” he said.
He confirmed the arrest of the mother Maurine Ongaga whom he said will be arraigned in court over child negligence.
