By TONY MUSISI
A 23-year-old woman accused of causing the death of her one-year-old son through alleged neglect has been released on a Sh500,000 bond by an Eldoret court, with no option of cash bail.
Tolhista Aujet appeared before Eldoret Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga, where she denied a manslaughter charge relating to the death of her son.
The court heard that the child was found dead in the accused’s one-room rental house in Kingongo, on the outskirts of Eldoret City, on September 26, 2026. The prosecution alleges that the child’s death resulted from severe neglect and suspected starvation.
Aujet, who was unrepresented, denied unlawfully causing her son’s death, contrary to Section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code.
“Your Honour, it is not true that I killed my son as alleged by the prosecution,” she told the court.
In his ruling on bail and bond, Ndwiga granted the accused a bond of Sh500,000 with one surety. He declined to grant her a cash bail option, citing the nature of the offence.
The magistrate directed that she be remanded at Eldoret GK Women’s Prison if she failed to meet the bond terms as she awaits trial.
The case will be mentioned on November 2, 2026.
Aujet was rescued by police officers from an angry mob that allegedly attacked her after accusing her of starving her son to death.
According to the account presented, the single mother allegedly left the child locked inside their one-room rental house in Kingongo while she went on a two-day drinking spree.
Residents reportedly responded after hearing the child’s distress cries and were forced to break open the door, only to find him dead.
The residents then searched for Aujet and reportedly found her at a drinking establishment in the area.
An angry mob allegedly descended on her, assaulting her with kicks and crude weapons before officers from Huruma Police Station, who were on routine patrol, intervened and rescued her from a possible lynching.
The officers arrested Aujet in connection with the child’s death and escorted her to Eldoret Central Police Station, where she was processed before being taken to court.
The child’s body was taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
