Kenyan Woman in Australia Admits to Throwing Newborn from Window
A 26-year-old Kenyan woman has pleaded guilty to throwing her newborn son from a window shortly after giving birth at her Melbourne home in August 2024.
The baby survived but sustained life-threatening injuries. Irene Cherotich, a student visa holder working as a disability support worker, gave birth alone in her apartment before wrapping the infant and dropping him from a window. Neighbours, unaware she had been pregnant, found the injured baby and called emergency services.
Cherotich was taken to the hospital under police guard and later charged. The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has referred the case to the County Court, with proceedings scheduled to continue in February 2026.
While the specific reasons for Cherotich’s actions remain unclear, the case has renewed focus on the mental health risks faced by new mothers, particularly those experiencing social isolation, migration-related stress, and limited access to support. Mental health experts note that although such incidents are rare, they often involve undiagnosed or untreated psychiatric conditions.
Postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis are two of the most severe mental health disorders linked to childbirth. According to the World Health Organization, about 13% of women worldwide experience mental health problems after delivery, with depression being the most common. Symptoms may include persistent sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
In rare but severe cases, postpartum psychosis can involve hallucinations, delusional thinking, and a risk of harm to the infant. Research shows that one in seven women may develop postnatal depression, yet nearly half of these cases go undiagnosed. Risk factors include low social support, exposure to domestic violence, and economic hardship.
In Kenya, rates are significantly higher among vulnerable groups, such as HIV-positive mothers (48%), adolescent mothers (58%), and those caring for malnourished children (66%). While most women with postnatal depression do not engage in violent behaviour, untreated postpartum psychosis has been linked to infanticide in a small number of cases.
A global review found that 4% of postpartum psychosis cases resulted in the death of a child. One study from India reported that more than a third of women with severe postpartum psychiatric conditions had acted on infanticidal thoughts.
