Officers charged in Baby Pendo’s murder

Twelve police bosses said to bear the brunt of responsibility for the killing of Baby Pendo during the post-2017 election chaos in Kisumu will today be charged with Baby Pendo’s murder.

The 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 charged in 2022 but have yet to enter a plea .

The delay is mainly due to a case they filed challenging their prosecution.

Through their lawyers, the officers had initially criticized the proposed charges in a preliminary objection, until Judge Kanyi Kimondo ruled in July 2024 that the suspects had been properly arraigned and had to plead to the charges.

He ordered all suspects to be physically present in court on October 3 to take pleas.

However, the plea was postponed again because the eleventh suspect Mohammed Baa was not present in the courtroom.

Baa has never appeared since his colleagues were first charged and has not been arrested despite numerous warrants for his arrest.

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda told Judge Kimondo that the nature of the charges requires all suspects to plead together.

The suspects face 47 charges of 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 produce him before the court for plea.

Judge Kimondo postponed oral arguments despite strong opposition from interested parties, including human rights groups that are also parties to the case.

They said the delay amounted to trampling on victims’ rights.

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

Baby Pendo, who died after allegedly being hit by a blunt object as riot police officers chased protesters into their compound, has become the face of the victims.

Police commanders would bear responsibility for the actions and omissions of their subordinates under their command.