Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has held a meeting with Joyce Onyango, a domestic worker previously accused of a heinous crime. The meeting marks a significant turn in a story that gripped the Ruai community and social media.
Just weeks ago, Ms Onyango was the subject of public outcry after she was accused of poisoning and killing a four-year-old child in her care.
The allegations surfaced after the child’s mother contacted Mr Mosiria seeking assistance to locate the househelp, who had left her place of work following a disagreement.
A Public Search
Mr Mosiria initially provided the grieving family with a public platform to share their concerns. This move was intended to help trace Ms Onyango’s whereabouts and bring the matter to the attention of the authorities.
“In good faith, I offered the platform to ensure the matter was brought to public attention,” Mosiria stated.
The case quickly became a talking point across the city. However, instead of remaining in hiding, Ms Onyango chose to face the allegations directly. She voluntarily surrendered herself to the Umoja Two Police Station to allow official investigations to take place.
Postmortem Reveals the Truth
The turning point in the case came with the release of the medical findings. A postmortem examination was conducted to determine the exact cause of the young child's death.
The results cleared Ms Onyango of any foul play. The examination confirmed that the child’s death was caused by pneumonia and other underlying infections. The medical evidence proved that the earlier allegations of poisoning were incorrect.
“A postmortem examination was later conducted, and the results confirmed that the child’s death was caused by pneumonia and other underlying infections, not poisoning as earlier alleged.”
Following these findings, Mr Mosiria met with Ms Onyango to help restore her reputation. He stated that he wanted to give her a platform to clear her name and regain her dignity after the unfortunate accusations.
A Life-Changing New Role
The meeting was not just about clearing the air. Mr Mosiria also revealed that he has helped Ms Onyango secure a new casual job at a private institution.
“I have helped her secure a casual job at a private institution, where she will now earn Kshs 17,000 per month,” he revealed.
This new role comes with a significant increase in her monthly earnings. In her previous employment, Ms Onyango earned a gross salary of KSh 6,000. After a KSh 1,000 deduction, she was left with a take-home pay of only KSh 5,000 per month.
The new position more than triples her previous income, providing her with a fresh start following the legal and social ordeal.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due process. While the initial public platform allowed for the case to be highlighted, the eventual police investigation and medical reports ensured that an innocent woman was not wrongly punished.
