Baby Sagini Case: New Twist After DPP Makes Request To Court

Alex Ochogo, Rael Nyakerario and Pacificah Nyakerario, who are accused of gouging out Baby Sagini's eyes on December 13, 2022, have taken a new plea after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) requested the court to amend the charges of attempted murder to grievous harm.

The three accused persons were on Wednesday, January 18 charged with attempted murder after they appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno at the Kisii Law Courts.

Prosecutor Hillary Kaino made an application to the court to amend the charges in which the trio were charged for attempted murder to be charged with grievous bodily harm according to Section 4 of the penal code.

Baby Sagini's grandmother Rael Nyakerario, his aunt Pacifica Nyakerario and her son Alex Ochogo at Kisii Law Courts on February 2, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA

Kaino stated that from the evidence they have gathered from the ground, it is sufficient for them to be hit with the new charges.

George Morara appeared in Court as an interested party representing Kisii County Government and sided with Kaino on the amendment of the charges. Also supporting the application is Nduhukire Anita representing Baby Sagini.

Morara further noted that the witness protection agency has requested for the hearing date to be set for the witnesses to avail themselves to record statements.

The three accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges as the court agreed on the application to amend the charges.

Ogweno stated that due to the weight of the trio, the court had appointed Moguche Violet and Kerosi Ondieki to represent them.

The case will be heard on February 24, 2023, and March 3, 2023. 

The case of Baby Sagini drew uproar across the country and the attention of President William Ruto.

"Please let's be mindful of our children. I'm surprised to hear that there are some parents who are putting their children's lives in danger. 

"We have seen that there is one parent in Kisii who has gouged out the eyes of a child, something that is very shocking. I don't know which type of devil is possessing a human being to the point that he is harming a child that does not have a sense of guilt, a child who neither has an error nor is doing any wrong to anyone in life," he addressed.

Rael had accused Pacifica and Ochogo of plotting to kill Baby Sagini over a piece of ancestral land he was to inherit when he comes of age, claiming that he was a stepson who doesn't deserve to inherit the piece of land, whose value Sagini was too young to comprehend.