A woman who allegedly scalded her neighbour with boiling cooking oil before dislocating her jaw after accusing her of copying her hairstyle is facing charges of causing grievous harm.

Catherine Wanjiru is accused of causing serious injuries to Sherry Nyanchomba at their residence in Dandora, Nairobi on January 16 in contravention of section 234 of the Penal Code.

Nyanchomba was returning home at about midnight when she met the suspect at their gate and Wanjiru allegedly accused her of copying her hairstyle by dying her hair in the same way she had done with hers.

The suspect allegedly went to a nearby fish vendor’s stand, grabbed the fryer spoon scooped the oil and allegedly poured it on Ms Nyanchomba’s face before grabbing her and they took to a fight.

Wanjiru allegedly grabbed Nyanchomba’s jaw and pulled it causing a dislocation of her teeth during the fight before neighbours intervened and rescued the complainant.

She was rushed to a nearby clinic where she was treated and referred to the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Embakasi where she was treated before she reported the matter to the police.

The suspect was summoned and arrested after police concluded investigations into the incident.

Wanjiru denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku of the Makadara Law Courts. She was released on a bond of Sh50,000 and an alternative cash bail of Sh20,000.

The case will be mentioned on March 6 before the hearing starts on May 30, 2024.