A newborn baby boy was discovered on Sunday abandoned in a garbage bin at an apartment complex in Kitengela.
The baby's condition was initially unclear, but he appeared healthy and was believed to have been born only hours earlier.
Mathew Muthosi, the apartment's caretaker, said the baby was found by a plastic waste collector who spotted him wrapped in a sack while sorting through the trash. Upon discovering the infant, the collector raised the alarm, drawing the attention of local residents and tenants.
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“This garbage collection point is where all waste is gathered before being picked up by the town’s garbage truck,” Muthosi explained.
The discovery left many mothers at the scene puzzled and saddened, questioning why anyone would abandon a healthy child in such a manner.
Erastus Karanja, a 78-year-old community elder, urged new mothers unable to care for their children to consider other options, such as placing them in a children’s home or seeking help from family or the community.
“It’s the first time something like this has happened in our area, and it’s heartbreaking,” said Mzee Karanja. “If you don’t want a child, consider adoption, talk to family, or seek assistance but don’t discard a life like garbage.”
Kitengela police responded to the scene and transported the newborn to a nearby medical facility for care.
Authorities have launched an investigation to identify those involved in the incident.
