A woman burned her son and two of her co-wife's children, leaving them with injuries, after they ate a meal of githeri she had asked them not to.
The woman identified as Monica, 35, fled after allegedly committing the offence in Bwabia village, Webuye West, on Monday.
Her co-wife had gone to her parents' home after disagreeing with their husband, who was also away.
Monica used burned polythene bags in the incident, and left the children with injuries all over their bodies, said Nangeni sub-location assistant chief Samuel Nayombe.
Nayombe said the children - 10 year-old Boniface, eight year-old Erick and Monica's son Simiyu, four - were taken to Webuye district hospital.
"This is not the first time this woman has been accused of mistreating these children since their mother left. Neighbors have reported her to me several times," he said.
He said she had fled to nearby Sango village but was caught by members of the public who handed her over to officers from Webuye police station. The woman will be charged in court.
Nayombe cautioned parents against harming their children following misunderstandings that do not concern them, and disciplinary measures that could be fatal.