DPP confirm senior police officers linked to Samantha Pendo’s death
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has confirmed that indeed Baby Samantha Pendo’s murder was committed by or under the authority of senior law enforcement officers in the context of the 2017 general elections.
The initial investigations were carried out by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which forwarded the files for perusal and advice to the Office of the Director of Public Persecutions (ODPP).
Through a statement, the DPP concluded that not only were the senior police officers responsible of Pendo’s death, but also other serious human rights violations such as raiding homes of innocent unarmed civilians and commiting various atrocities as part of a systematic and widespread attack against the civilian populations.
“It is evident from the records that several residents of the informal settlements were subjected to untold incidents of pain and suffering as the police officers engaged in excessive use of force and sexual violence of unprecedented magnitudes on the citizens,” DPP stated.
The DPP was satisfied that there was evidence to support murder charges, rape and torture as crimes against humanity.
“Owing to the complexity of the matter, the seriousness of the possible offences and the disposition of the suspects, the DPP found that between 11th to 15th August 2017; the police officers acted under the operation order Operation Post Election Mipango under which they committed atrocities,”DPP stated.
The investigations also concluded that the attacks were widespread and systematic against the civilian population of Nyalenda, Nyamasaria, Kondele and Obunga in Kisumu county.
The DPP had directed that a prosecution guided investigations be undertaken by the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) and had also invited the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights (KNCHR), Civil Society organisations, victims and witnesses to participate and assist with the investigations.
The DPP has directed that the suspects be charged accordingly and their names not disclosed to protect the victims and witnesses of the aforementioned crimes.
