In courts todayTwelve police officers believed to bear the responsibility in the 2017 post-election violence chaos in Kisumu in which Baby Pendo died are today expected to plead to murder charges.
An inquest into the death recommended murder charges against 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.
They are facing 47 counts of crimes against humanity including murder, torture and rape.
The offences were allegedly committed during the 2017 post-election violence in Kisumu.
Baby Pendo who died after a blunt object allegedly hit her as anti-riot police officers pursued protesters in their compound, has become the face of the victims.
The police commanders are said to bear the responsibility for the actions and inactions of their juniors who were under their command.
The plea-taking has dragged on since 2022 with the most recent adjournment owing to the absence of Mohamed Baa.
The prosecution says all the 12 suspects must be tried together given the nature of the charges as they are accused jointly.
The officers are expected to appear before Justice Margaret Muigai to plead to the charges.
Sarah Wairimu case
At the High Court in Kibera, Justice Diana Kavedza will today rule on whether Sarah Wairimu should be subjected to a fresh mental assessment before she pleads to charges of murdering her husband Tob Cohen in 2019.
Wairimu was presented to court last week when the court directed her to be held at the Langata Women's Prison pending today’s ruling.
Her lawyers had opposed the levelling of fresh charges against her arguing they had been dropped by the DPP in 2022.
They also argued that she had already undergone a mental check-up when she was first charged.
