Police interdicted over Baby Pendo killing

The inquest into the killing of Baby Samantha Pendo has ruled that the National Police Service is liable for the death of the six-month-old.

A Kisumu court found police commanders on the night Baby Pendo was clobbered in their house in Nyalenda slums Kisumu culpable for her death.

Resident Magistrate Beryl Omollo says evidence adduced in court overwhelmingly indicts senior police officers.

The court also called for action on a platoon of 30 General Service Units deployed to quell protesters in Nyalenda that fateful night.

Among the top commanders found culpable for the death includes former Kisumu County police commander Titus Yoma and the current Kisumu County AP boss Benjamin Koima.

Omollo says the ruling will be shared by the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further investigations into the officers mentioned.

Baby Pendo died in August 2017 after the disputed general election where it was alleged that anti riot police officers stormed their house in Nyalenda clobbering her.

She died after three days while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.

The court ruled that it was a heavy task to pin down on the officer who hit Baby Pendo on the head with a blunt object.

Omollo however noted that chain commanders of officers that night and the GSU personnel deployed on the area are to take liability for the death.

The ruling blamed the officers for failing to adhere to their professional rules to keep law and order but instead cause mayhem among the people.