Baby Uhuru, a newborn baby who survived a six-hour ordeal inside a pit latrine has been dubbed a miracle baby and is recuperating at Karatina Level Four Hospital.

Ephraim Mwatha, a local resident rescued the baby boy at Jambo area in Karatina town and it is believed his mother had abandoned him.

The Hospital director Caroline Gichuki and Nursing Services director Peninah Muthami said baby Uhuru is responding well to treatment.

Full recovery

"The baby is now stable. The mother accepted him and he is being breastfed. He is expected to make a full recovery," Ms Muthami said.

The mother, who is also admitted at the hospital after developing birth complications, underwent counselling according to a report by the Nation.

Mr Mwangi said: "I rushed to the scene and found people milling around; some were demolishing the toilet structure but none was willing to climb down to get the baby who was crying. I decided to take the challenge and save a life; it was stinking but a human life is priceless."

Flagged down

Mr Moses Karingithi Maregwa, who helped take the baby to hospital in his vehicle, described the rescue as a miracle.

"I was driving by in my vehicle when I saw a group of people flagging me down. I saw a woman carrying a baby covered in human waste. I was shocked to learn it had been rescued after six hours; this is a real God’s miracle," he said.