Police arrest man accused of forcing stepdaughter to sleep at doorstep

Police have arrested a man accused of forcing his 10-year-old stepdaughter to sleep at the doorstep of his house for close to four years.

The girl, whose mother died four years ago, has been eating, sleeping and doing homework outside the family house in Kariobangi North, Nairobi, after her stepfather accused her of bringing bad luck to the family.

Attempts by neighbours to feed and shelter her have been frustrated by her grandmother, who also shielded the man from arrest.

The 47-year-old man was arrested after neighbours reported the case at the Kariobangi Police Station.

Starehe OCPD Benard Nyakwaka said the man would be arraigned for child neglect Friday.

Thursday, police took the child, a Standard Five pupil, to the Muthaiga Children’s Home.

“We have information that the man has been claiming that the girl is not his biological daughter and that she brought bad luck to the family,” said Mr Nyakwaka.

Neighbours said they had reported the matter to the police several times before, but no action had been taken, until Thursday.

National Youth Council Kariobangi North representative David Wanyoike said he had reported the matter to the police on several occasions and the most recent complaint was recorded under OB number 38/10/8/2015.

However, he said, the police had not taken action.

“We feed the child whenever we can, but whenever her grandmother notices that she has been given food, she shouts and hurls insults.

“We cannot even give her blankets because the old woman literally snatches them and throws them back,” said Mr Wanyoike.

SUICIDE ATTEMPT

According to him, the girl once attempted suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of her flat but she was rescued by neighbours.

Other complainants said they had reported the cruel treatment meted out against the girl under OB numbers 18/10/01/2013, 45/06/08/2014 at the Kariobangi and Buruburu police stations.

“This is not the first time we are reporting this matter. This man has been arrested several times, but his mother, with whom he lives, has been using all means to get her son out.

“The woman has even been arrested on three occasions but was released for reasons we do not know,” said a neighbour, Mr James Kinyanjui.

He said the girl’s grandmother always threatens neighbours, warning them that they would not succeed in getting the police to arrest her and her son.

When the Nation team visited the home, the girl, who was in school uniform, was sitting on a mat outside her family home, clutching a plate of ugali and sukuma wiki.

She claimed that she was given the food by a neighbour.

She also had a blue leso, which she said she used to cover herself at night.

There were books next to her, an indication that she also probably did her homework out in the cold.

Mr Nyakwaka said police were questioning several other members of the family, neighbours and the caretaker of the flat.

The man, who owns three matatus that ply the Kayole-City Stadium route, is said to be a father of three other children who are not mistreated.

Section 127 of the Children’s Act, 2001, states that a person having parental responsibility, custody, charge or care of a child shall be deemed to have neglected such child if the person concerned has failed to provide adequate food, clothing, education, immunisation, shelter and medical care.

If found guilty of abandoning a child, one is liable to imprisonment for not less than two years.