Four police officers have been formally charged in connection with the death of six-month-old Baby Samantha Pendo, who was killed during the post-election violence in Kisumu in August 2017. The charges come after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped murder charges against eight other senior officers previously linked to the case.
Those charged on Monday include John Chengo Masha, Lina Kogey, Cyprine Robi Wankio, and James Rono. The DPP has approved multiple charges against the group, including murder, rape, and violations under the International Crimes Act.
John Chengo Masha, a high-ranking officer, faces the most severe allegations. He is accused not only of murder and rape but also of committing crimes against humanity. Prosecutors allege that under Masha’s command, police officers forcibly entered civilian homes, deployed tear gas, and subjected residents to severe beatings and sexual violence. More than 20 women were reportedly raped, and some victims were extorted forced to pay amounts ranging from Ksh.500 to Ksh.2,000.
According to the prosecution, Masha failed to prevent these actions and did not take steps to stop or report the abuses carried out by officers under his command. The remaining three officers, including Lina Kogey who faces a separate murder charge tied to the August 12, 2017 crackdown are similarly accused of dereliction of duty and complicity in the violence.
All four accused have been ordered by the court to remain within its jurisdiction for seven days. They are prohibited from contacting or interfering with witnesses during this period as investigations continue.
