When the highly contested 2017 elections results were announced, more than 100 anti-riot police were involved in an operation in Kisumu city to quell protests that broke out as an estimated 500,000 people came out to protest.
At the time of the operation, Mr Yoma was the Kisumu County Police Commander, Mr Maweu was the Kisumu East OCPD, Mr Thiringi was the Kisumu Central OCS, Mr Koima was in charge of Kisumu West while Ms Kosgei was commanding Nyalenda Police Station.
According to Government Consultant Pathologist Dickson Mchana, the baby died due internal bleeding.A post-mortem revealed that Samantha Pendo, also known as Baby Pendo, suffered an open cracked scalp with deep head injuries in the attack.
“Actually it was bad. The baby had gaping head fractures (and) that is what kept her alive. When the scalp opens it relives pressure, otherwise if it would have been enclosed the baby would have died immediately,” said Dr Mchana.
The autopsy was conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu.Officials from Independent Policing Oversight Authority, family spokesman’s Amos Pambu, Aga Khan Hospital Residential Pathologist Simon Osongo and Medical superintendent Sam Oula were present.
Dr Oula earlier said that infant was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in critical condition but did not survive.
“There were small pockets of bleeding inside the brain that made the child slip in a coma. She sustained serious head injuries that led to internal bleeding,” said Dr Oula.
Baby Pendo was a victim of the brutal force that anti-riot police unleashed on demonstrators who protested presidential results announced on Friday.
Her parents were hit on the head by the police officers who stormed their house in Nyalenda after they refused to open the door out of fear.
According to her mother, Lancer Achieng, two officers broke the door and hit her before the third beat and knocked her to the ground.
“It all started at 1am when police stormed our house. They beat me on the legs and arms. I was carrying the baby in my arms, they hit her with a club on the head” said Ms Achieng.
She added: “When the police left, we took the baby to Oasis Hospital in Nyalenda but they could not handle her case. We, therefore, rushed to Aga Khan Hospital.”
Ms Achieng said that the baby developed a swelling on the head after the attack.
Her husband said anti-riot police had threatened to break into the house and shoot them.
Kenyans and rights groups have condemned the police brutality and demanded justice for Baby Pendo.