A woman from Masongo in Kisii is recovering in hospital after she was attacked by a mob for assaulting her stepdaughter by inserting a hot knife in her private parts.

The woman, who is also pregnant, thrust the knife in the nine-year-old girl's private parts on Sunday night as punishment after she took Sh20 from the house to buy a snack.

The girl, whose parents died six years ago, was left to stay with her stepmother, Winnie Kwamboka, in their rented apartment after separation from the father.

The minor has reportedly been subjected to frequent assaults from Kwamboka.

She sustained serious burns, infuriating residents who resorted to mob justice, seriously injuring the stepmother.

Kwamboka was rescued by police officers who rushed to the scene and took both the stepmother and the girl to the Kisii Level Six Hospital where they are being treated. They are in stable condition.

In a police report seen by the Star on Monday through OB28/17/02/2017 at the Kisii Central police station, the girl sustained burns on her thighs, buttocks and in her private parts.

The woman is set to appear in court on Monday.

It is estimated that 14 per cent of Kenyan women and 6 per cent of men aged 15-49 have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.

In Kenya women and girls experience sexual violence more than men and boys.

According to Kenyan laws, any person who unlawfully penetrates the genital organs of another person within (i) any part of the body of another or that person;

Or (ii) an object manipulated by another or that person except where such penetration is carried out for proper and professional hygienic or medical purposes is guilty of an offence termed sexual assault.

The person guilty of an offence under this section is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years but which may be enhanced to imprisonment for life.