A Kisumu court, on Thursday, ruled that police commandants who served in the county during the 2017 elections that were followed by riots and violence were responsible for the death of baby Samantha Pendo.
The top five police officers are Titus Yoma (Kisumu County Commander 2017), Lina Kogei (Inspector Nyalenda Police 2017), John Chengo Masha (Chief Inspector GSU), Benjamin Koima (Assistant AP Commandant Kisumu Central Sub County), and Mutune Maweu (Senior Superintendent OCPD Kisumu East).
While making the ruling, Resident Magistrate Beryl Omollo directed DPP Noordin Haji to take necessary and timely actions against the officers.
A total of 31 officers were identified as persons of interest in the suspected crime by the court.
Baby Pendo passed on in August 2017 after being clobbered on her head allegedly by the police at their home in Nyalenda slum of Kisumu.
Joseph Gitonga, the Government Chemist, offered a report on the exhibits provided by IPOA investigators, which included a teargas canister.
After the ruling, Pendo’s mother Lencer Achieng indicated, "I'm so happy that at last justice has been served, let my baby rest in peace."
The prosecution lawyer indicated that the police ought to be held responsible for the murder of the child since they were clearly responsible.
The officers were responding to chaos in the lakeside city that erupted after Uhuru Kenyatta was declared president-elect in the contested August 8, 2017, election.
Judge Omollo also indicated that there was sufficient evidence to show police officers were at the scene of the crime.
