Baby Sagini testifies in court, says grandmother gouged his eyes out

Baby Junior Sagini the three-year-old baby whose eyes were gouged out in December last year in Kisii County has told the court that his grandmother Rael Nyakerario did the beastly act to him.

The minor said this during a cross-examination session at Kisii Law Courts on Friday morning.

"Ni Nyakerario shosho ndiye alinipiga kichwa hapa alafu akanitoa macho..." said Baby Sagini.

Three suspects Alex Ochogo, Rael Nyakerario and Pacificah Nyakerario, are accused of gouging out Baby Sagini's eyes on December 13, 2022, at Ikuruma Village in Kitutu Chache North Constituency.

The trio was on January 18 charged with attempted murder which later changed to causing grievous bodily harm according to Section 4 of the Penal Code after Prosecutor Hillary Kaino made an application to the court to amend the charges.

During the virtual cross-examination on Friday, Sagini, who is under state protection together with his sister, said that his grandmother gouged out his eyes using her hands and dumped him at a maize plantation.

Sagini's sister told the court that on December 13, 2022, they went to the river to fetch water as usual, but Sagini did not turn up since he lost his water jerrican.

She explained how they went on with their daily chores but on the following day, someone told their grandmother that Baby Sagini was found dumped in a maize plantation.

They went to search for him, and later police officers came and took the baby to the hospital to seek medication.

Daniel Nyameino, a clinician at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, told the court that he received a medical report on December 29, 2022, from Rioma Station of Baby Sagini and after examining him, he established that the baby was assaulted by unknown people between 13 and 14 December 2022.

He said that Baby Sagini had scratch marks which might have been caused by more than one person and had sustained severe injuries.

According to him, the eyes were gouged out, the eyelids were dark and there was leakage like an ointment from the eyes.

He separated the eyelids and mounted a bandage on the eyes.

He further said that Baby Sagini had bruises below his right eye 1cm long and scratch marks on the neck caused by a sharp object.

The baby was further transferred to Kisii Eye Hospital for specialized medical attention and his eyelids were prepared and recommended to be taken to blind school since his eyes were permanently damaged.

Josephine Karimi, the caregiver taking care of Sagini and his sister, told the court that the minors have improved from the status they were at first.

Karemi said that the minors have undergone psychosocial support and have improved from the torture they were subjected to.

She also told the court that when she received them, the children were very violent, using abusive language that showed that they were brought up in a hostile environment.

George Morara appeared as an interested party representing the Kisii County Government and Anita Nduhukire represented Baby Sagini.

Lawyers Moguche Violet and Kerosi Ondieki are representing the suspects.