Cops to be charged in Baby Pendo murder

Twelve police bosses believed to bear the greatest responsibility for the murder of Baby Pendo during the 2017 post-election chaos in Kisumu will today be charged with her murder.

Suspects; Titus Yoma, Titus Mutune, John Chengo, Linah Kogey, Benjamin Koima, Benjamin Lorema, Volker Edambo, Cyprine Robi, Josphat Sensira, Mohammed Ali Guyo, Mohammed Baa and James Rono were first brought to court in 2022 but have not yet received their pleas.

The main reason for the delay is a lawsuit they filed challenging their prosecution.

The officers, through their lawyers, had initially found fault with the charges proposed in a preliminary objection, until Judge Kanyi Kimondo ruled in July 2024 that the suspects had been properly arraigned and should plead guilty to the charges.

He instructed all suspects to be physically present in court on October 3 to take a plea.

However, the taking of the defense was postponed once again because the eleventh suspect, Muhammed Baa, was not present at the hearing.

Baa has not appeared since his colleagues’ first appearance in court and has not been arrested despite multiple arrest warrants against him.

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Vincent Monda told Judge Kimondo that due to the nature of the charges, all suspects must enter a defense together.

The suspects face 47 different crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and rape.

Monda asked for the case to be postponed for a month so that the police could arrest Baa and bring him to court for defence.

Judge Kimondo postponed the defense despite strong opposition from interested parties, including human rights groups who are parties to the case.

They said the delay amounted to a violation of victims’ rights.

Today, the suspects are expected to appear before Judge Lillian Mutende to plead guilty to the charges.

Baby Pendo, who lost his life after allegedly being hit with a blunt object while riot police were chasing protesters in residential areas, became the face of the victims.

Police commanders are said to take responsibility for the actions and inactions of their subordinates.