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Take responsibility for killing Baby Pendo, Nyong’o tells police


Leaders in Kisumu County have asked the police to own up for the deaths reported in Kisumu during protests that followed the announcement presidential results.

Kisumu County governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said the police should take responsibility for the killings.

He spoke during the memorial service of six-month old Samantha Pendo at St Joseph Catholic Church Milimani, Kisumu on Friday where he argued it was obvious the public is still outraged by the continual denial by the police.

“The county commissioner (Mohammed Maalim) tried to speak to people last week but residents declined to listen to him. He never uttered a word of sympathy for the people of Kisumu yet he wants us to listen to him. We say no,” said Prof Nyong’o.

He was referring to an incident in which an audience jeered Mr Maalim when he tried to speak at Prof Nyong’o’s inauguration on Monday.

SUFFERING

He added: “Because we were suffering, our people died you did not comfort us. And when we were in hospital on the brink of death, you never came to see us.”

Samantha Pendo died Tuesday August 15 evening at Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu after suffering severe injuries in the head.

A post mortem showed that she had an open cracked scalp with deep head injuries that led to her death.

Baby Pendo died four days after her skull was smashed by people the family says were police forcing their way into people’s homes in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu.

According to the family, the police trying to break protests, were ransacking houses when one of the officers hit the baby on the head. She was rushed to hospitable where she died later.

The Police, to date, deny the charge.

FEEL OPPRESSED

“We are prepared to stand and speak the truth to uphold the rights of Kenyans who feel oppressed,” said the Governor, who announced he intends to mark February 8, Pendo’s birthday, as an annual event.

Kisumu Senator Fred Outa said that police should have allowed residents to hold peaceful demonstrations in pursuit of justice.

She will be laid to rest at Konjira Village, Ugunja in Siaya County on Saturday August 26, 2017.

“We will be called for peaceful demonstrations because it is the right of Kenyans. He can’t say that nobody was killed yet we have six month old child dead,” said Mr Outa.

The baby  will be laid to rest at Konjira Village, Ugunja in Siaya County on Saturday August 26, 2017.