Bungoma mother-in-law throws acid on woman, locks her in room for two weeks “to rot”

A 20-year-old woman from Soysambu sub-location in Ndalu, Bungoma County has been admitted to Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital after her mother-in-law allegedly threw acid on her legs and tied her to a pole inside a room – for two weeks “to rot”.

Confirming the incident, Soysambu sub-location administrator Geoffrey Okumu said the woman, identified as Reginalda, was allegedly attacked by her mother-in-law shortly after she, Riginalda, gave birth at a Bungoma hospital earlier this month.

The reason for the mother-in-law’s said callous act is yet to be established, though she denies throwing acid on her daughter-in-law.

“My daughter-in-law’s brothers came for her after she gave birth. She had been complaining of an incessant headache, and when I couldn’t afford her hospital bills, they said they’ll take her to hospital. She stayed at her brother’s place for two weeks. I did not throw acid on her,” said the woman’s mother-in-law, Margaret Masai.

According to Reginalda’s brothers, they were informed about their sister’s sorry state by the neighbours, who were concerned for the health of the locked up woman.

According to Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital chief doctor Oliver Mamadi, he received the woman on Wednesday, February 22, with both her legs and fingers in a state of decay after the acid had liquefied parts of her limbs.

Reginalda’s legs were consequently amputated.

Dr Mamadi says he is yet to know why the woman was subjected to an acid attack.

Police officers at the Kapchonge police post are investigating the incident, with Reginalda’s husband and mother-in-law being the prime suspects in the acid attack.