A tragic incident has shaken the community of Turukwei village in Baringo Central subcounty after a 28-year-old woman, Viola Kangogo, allegedly killed her infant child following a heated argument with her husband. The incident occurred on March 4 at around 8 p.m. at their family home. Kangogo has since been detained at Eldoret Women GK Prison pending a second mental assessment, as ordered by Kabarnet principal magistrate Purity Koskey.
According to court documents, Kangogo’s husband, Ronald Yator, reported that the couple had been living peacefully with their child until March 3, when Kangogo accused him of having extramarital affairs. The accusation sparked a heated argument, during which Kangogo became agitated and threatened to harm either her husband or the child. Yator recounted that Kangogo attempted to strangle the baby with a scarf, but he intervened and saved the child.
The situation escalated the following day when Kangogo left the house and returned later in the evening, visibly intoxicated. Upon her return, Yator asked her to breastfeed the child. Instead, Kangogo allegedly lifted the baby and brutally smashed her head against a stone, killing the infant instantly. Realizing what she had done, Kangogo reportedly attempted to take her own life, but Yator restrained her.
During her arraignment, a mental assessment conducted by psychiatrist Dr. Stanley Kilelit found Kangogo to be of unsound mind. However, the assessment was inconclusive regarding the specific nature of her mental condition. As a result, the court ordered a second evaluation to determine her mental state at the time of the incident. The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking to charge Kangogo with infanticide under Section 210 of the Penal Code.
The case has left the community in shock and mourning. Kangogo’s detention at Eldoret Women GK Prison will continue until the second mental assessment is completed. The case is set for mention on April 4, as the court seeks to establish the facts and deliver justice for the tragic loss of the infant’s life. This heartbreaking incident underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues and domestic conflicts to prevent such devastating outcomes.
