The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Keriako Tobiko has asked the National police service to institute disciplinary action against four senior police officers for being negligent in their duties during an operation to quell riots after the August general election.
They include immediate former Kisumu County Commander Titus Yoma, Christopher Maweu (OCPD Kisumu East), SSP Benjamin Kosgei (DAPC Kisumu Central) and John Thiringi (OCS Kisumu Central.)
The DPP also directed for a public inquest be instituted over the death of baby Samantha Pendo, who succumbed to injuries sustained during an operation to quell riots in Nyalenda B Estate, Kisumu County.
Tobiko advised baby Pendo's family to pursue civil proceedings against the National Police Service so as to acquire compensation.
He further asked the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to assist the family of the six-month-old baby in getting justice.
[caption caption="DPP Keriako Tobiko"]
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“The National Police Service must improve its manner and style of community engagement and adapt enhanced community relationship building in order for the service to improve policing services,” the DPP directed.
“Members of the NPS (should) be trained on fundamental human rights and to be constantly reminded of the importance of respecting and protecting them,” he added.
Baby Pendo sustained injuries after a police officer struck her on the head with his baton during a raid in Kisumu in August.
According to a postmortem report, the baby died of fatal head fractures brought about by a severe head injury.
The six-month-old succumbed to her injuries at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu.
[caption caption="The family of baby Pendo"]
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