In Ikuruma village, Marani Sub-County, Kisii County, a small child’s laughter was silenced by an unimaginable act of cruelty.
Three-year-old Brighton Junior Sagini, fondly known as Baby Sagini, suffered a horror that no family should ever endure — his own relatives became his attackers.
On Tuesday, 13 December 2022, Baby Sagini was abducted from his family home. Hours later, he was found abandoned in a nearby maize field, bleeding from a savage assault.
Both his eyes had been gouged out with a sharp object, leaving him permanently blind.
The brutality of the act shocked the community and raised questions about the depths of human cruelty within families.
The perpetrators were close kin: Alex Maina Ochogo, then 27, Sagini’s cousin and the main assailant; Pacifica Nyakerario, 51, his aunt; and Rael Mayaka, 80, his grandmother.
Court records suggested dark motives behind the attack, including superstitious or ritualistic beliefs and potential disputes over inheritance.
The fact that those entrusted with his care turned against him intensified public outrage.
During a tense and emotional court session at Kisii Law Courts, Baby Sagini — despite his young age — identified his grandmother as one of the attackers.
Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno presided over the case. On 7 July 2023, all three were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Sentencing followed on 24 July: Alex received 40 years in prison for carrying out the attack, Pacifica was sentenced to 10 years, and Rael was initially handed five years.
In early 2024, however, the Court of Appeal overturned Rael’s conviction, acquitting her of charges related to the incident.
For his mother, Maureen Nyaboke, the ordeal has been devastating. She publicly mourned the loss of her son’s sight and the betrayal by her family, questioning how love and blood could be replaced by such cruelty.
After the attack, Sagini and his older sister were placed under protective custody by the Department of Children’s Services.
He received treatment at Kisii Eye Hospital, though his vision could not be restored. Philanthropist Mike Sonko has stepped in to offer support, including the possibility of an eye transplant abroad.
Years later, Baby Sagini remains in state care, his safety and wellbeing safeguarded while his mother continues to advocate for access and further medical treatment.
The case remains a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities of children even within their own families and the urgent need for robust child protection systems across Kenya.
This tragedy, while unique in its horror, highlights a broader societal issue — the betrayal of trust by those meant to nurture and protect. Justice was delivered for the convicted, but the boy’s eyes — and his innocence — were stolen forever.
Baby Sagini’s story is a call to action: to strengthen child protection, to raise awareness about family-based violence, and to ensure that no child suffers a similar fate.
May his story inspire vigilance, compassion, and concrete steps to protect the most vulnerable members of society.