NAIROBI, Kenya – In a small home in Kisumu, nestled in the heart of Kenya’s opposition stronghold, baby Samantha was born.
Her parents, Joseph Oloo Abanja and Lensa Achieng, affectionately called her “Pendo,” meaning “Love” in Kiswahili.
Pendo, their joy, was the light of their lives. But six months later, in August 2017, that light was cruelly extinguished.
As violence and chaos erupted across Kisumu in the wake of disputed election results, the city became a battleground between the Kenyan police and those protesting the outcome.
In the dead of night, as the world slept, a police raid turned into a nightmare that would haunt a family forever.
On that fateful night, as tear gas filled the air and the screams of the oppressed echoed through the Nyalenda informal settlement, police stormed the home of Joseph and Lensa.
The officers, clad in riot gear, were rounding up suspected troublemakers, determined to quell the unrest at any cost. They began their brutal assault on the family.
As they battered Joseph outside the door, Lensa held her beloved baby in her arms, trying to shield her from the chaos. But the police weren’t done.
Without warning, a tear-gas canister was thrown into their one-roomed home.
As the gas filled the space, Pendo struggled to breathe, her tiny body writhing in agony.
Her mother, in a desperate attempt to protect her daughter, stepped outside, only to be struck by the officers, who showed no mercy.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Pendo, who had been alive moments before, suddenly went limp in her mother’s arms.
She clung to Lensa as though in pain, and the mother’s cries of despair echoed through the darkness.
It was a heartbreaking moment that would forever sear into Lensa’s memory.
The police, who had inflicted such devastation, swiftly retreated, leaving the family broken and in agony.
Neighbors rushed to their aid, helping to take Pendo to the hospital, but it was too late.
After three days in intensive care, Pendo succumbed to her injuries.
The death of Baby Pendo sparked nationwide outrage.
In a country where police brutality was sadly no stranger, the murder of an innocent child at the hands of the very people sworn to protect them sent shockwaves through Kenyan society.
Yet, despite the anger and the outcry, justice seemed out of reach.
After an initial investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered a public inquest into the death of Baby Pendo.
The judge’s findings were damning, holding the police accountable for their actions.
As time passed, Joseph and Lensa’s grief grew even more unbearable. Every time they dared to hope for justice, they were met with disappointment. Each delay, each postponement, added to their suffering.
The pain of losing their daughter never subsided, but the search for accountability only seemed to deepen their wounds.
Seven years have passed since Pendo’s death, and the couple remains trapped in an endless cycle of injustice.
The case against the police officers involved has faced multiple delays, each one a harsh reminder that their beloved daughter’s life was taken in vain.
In the midst of their heartbreak, the couple has not given up on their quest for justice.
With the support of civil society groups and the international community, they have continued to demand accountability.
For Joseph and Lensa, every day is a reminder of the brutal death of their daughter, whose only crime was being born into a time of political upheaval.
Baby Pendo’s death was not just the loss of a child—it was a symbol of the systemic violence that continues to plague Kenya’s police force.
The struggle for justice for Baby Pendo is, in many ways, the struggle for justice for all the victims of police brutality in Kenya.
Their fight continues, not just for Pendo, but for the countless others whose lives have been shattered by the same system of violence.
They demand not only justice but also an end to the impunity that allows such atrocities to go unpunished. In their hearts, Pendo will always be their “Love.”
But for Joseph and Lensa, the love they lost that night will never fade, and neither will their determination to seek justice for their daughter.
Among those charged is John Chengo Masha, who now faces serious allegations, including murder and crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Act. ynews.digital/newsflash/dpp-…
