Househelp Cleared in Ruai Child Death Case Speaks Out After Postmortem Findings

A Nairobi househelp who had been accused of killing her employer’s four-year-old child in Ruai has been cleared after a postmortem revealed that the child had died from pneumonia and related infections, not poisoning.

The woman, who is identified as Joyce Onyango, had become the subject of widespread public scrutiny after allegations surfaced following the child’s death in early May.

According to reports, the dispute began after Joyce allegedly disagreed with her employer, Ann Wanjiru, over payment of her Ksh 6,000 salary.

Ann claimed the househelp left the child with a neighbour before the girl later fell ill and died.

Public Allegations

The matter gained national attention after Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement, Geoffrey Mosiria, shared the case on his social media platforms and appealed to the public to help trace Joyce for investigations.

After seeing the public allegations online, Joyce said she surrendered herself to the police to allow investigations to proceed.

However, a postmortem later ruled out poisoning and confirmed that the child died from pneumonia and underlying infections.

Police therefore cleared Joyce of wrongdoing after going to court, and evidence from the post-mortem revealed the cause of the child’s death.

Also Read: Four-Year-Old Dies After Suspected Poisoning by House Help in Salary Dispute

Joyce Speaks

Speaking after her release on Mosiria’s social media page, Joyce said the accusations had severely affected her reputation and family, and she also struggled emotionally due to the matter.

On Monday, May 11, Joyce met Mosiria at his office, where he allowed her to publicly narrate her side of the story after earlier giving the grieving mother a platform online.

“Nilijipeleka police station, because I knew I am innocent. Mimi ni mama siwezi fanyia mama mwenzangu hivyo,” Joyce said.

Joyce explained herself and thanked Mosiria for giving her a platform to clear her name after sleeping in a cell for some days and later going to court.

Joyce Secures Job After Clearing Her Name

Mosiria said he had acted in good faith after being approached by the child’s mother and maintained that he intended to help bring attention to the matter.

“I use my platform to communicate, and I just wanted the mother of the child to find justice,” Said Mosiria in the video

Also Read: Consolidated Bank of Kenya Announces Job Vacancies: How to Apply

Mosiria also stated that he had also assisted Joyce in securing a new casual job at a private institution where she is expected to earn Ksh 17,000 per month.

“Out of my good heart, I have called my friends and one of them has agreed to give Joyce a job where she will be earning Ksh 17,000,” Mosiria said.

The case has therefore sparked reactions online, with some Kenyans criticising the dangers of public accusations before investigations by the police are completed.

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