Court Summons Inspector General Kanja

Court Summons Inspector General Kanja

Court Summons Inspector General Kanja to explain why 11 police officers linked to the murder of Baby Pendo, which occurred in Kisumu City in 2017, were not yet arrested.

This is after two suspects Mohammed Baa, a senior police officer, and Linah Kogey failed to attend court on Tuesday, November 5.

Baa’s whereabouts are unknown despite the court extending a warrant of arrest against him while Linah’s lawyer informed the court her client was unwell and admitted to the hospital

Six-month-old Baby Samantha Pendo died during police operations in Kisumu after protests broke out against the disputed 2017 General Election.

In the hearing, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Monda, informed the court that the case is of great human interest and as such, all suspects must be present in court before they take plea.

Previously, in July this year, High Court Judge Kanyi Kimondo had issued a court order for 11 senior ranking officers to take a plea over the death of the baby.

The case was hinged on the Kenyan 2008 International Crimes Act which provides exercise of legal responsibility as well as command responsibility for senior police officers.

The suspects are held to account as they were in command of the police and thus assumed responsibility for the forces under their control.

Among the charges they are facing include murder, torture, rape, and violations of human rights which are a breach of the International Crimes Act and Article 28 of the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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