Baby Sagini: Lawyers Make Requests To Court Ahead Of Pre-Trial

Lawyers representing three-year-old Junior Sagini, a boy whose eyes were gouged out by unidentified assailants in Kisii County and the county government have made special requests ahead of the pre-trial of three suspects linked to the brutal assault.

The suspects include Alex Maina Ochogo, Rael Nyakerario and Florence (Pacifica) Nyakerario who were charged with attempted murder after they appeared before Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno at the Kisii Law Courts.

George Morara appeared in Court as an interested party representing Kisii County Government and presented an application for the privacy of the minors before the Court.

He cited Section 16 of the Children's Act whereby a child shall not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation.

The child also has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Morara asked the court to grant Baby Sagini and his sister more time for a psychological procedure to be completed since they are the main witnesses in the case.

"Baby Sagini and his sister underwent psychological torture and they are under depression. I plead to the court to grant them more time to heal," he requested.

Morara further explained that on December 21, 2022, Esnahs Nyaramba, an activist, had infringed on the privacy of the two minors by posting them on social media which is against the Children's Act. The application was supported by Anita Nduhukire, who represented Baby Sagini.

Prosecutor Hillary Kaino was also in support of the application and requested the court to serve documents to the three suspects as they wait for the pretrial.

Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno stated that the court has considered the application and the privacy of the minors will not be infringed further.

The accused persons will appear in court on March 2, 2023, at the Kisii Law Courts for pre-trial under strict measures to consider the privacy of the minors.

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

Commenting on the case, Ruto was surprised to learn of the atrocious incident while questioning the ill motives of those responsible for harming a child who has done nothing wrong.

"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.