Seven years after six-month-old Samantha Pendo died from injuries inflicted during a police operation in Kisumu, Kenya, her parents, Joseph Oloo Abanja and Lensa Achieng, are still waiting for justice. The case against the officers accused of causing her death has been delayed repeatedly, leaving the family with lingering pain and unanswered questions.
The tragedy occurred in August 2017 during post-election unrest. Anti-riot police reportedly broke into the family’s one-room home in Kisumu’s Nyalenda area, throwing tear gas inside and assaulting the parents. Samantha sustained fatal injuries during the attack and passed away after three days in intensive care.
Although an inquest in 2019 held the officers responsible and recommended further investigations, progress has stalled. Twelve officers were expected to face charges, including murder, torture, and rape, but the plea hearing has been postponed multiple times. The latest delay was due to the transfer of the presiding judge, with the hearing now rescheduled for later this month.
Victims’ lawyers and human rights groups accuse authorities of lacking the political will to prosecute the case. They claim the delays are deliberate attempts to shield the accused from accountability. Some have suggested escalating the matter to regional or international courts if local justice continues to be elusive.
Samantha’s parents, deeply affected by the loss, insist that justice is essential for their healing. “They took away something so precious to me,” said Mr. Abanja, who named Samantha after his mother. The family remains determined to see those responsible held accountable.
The case has become a symbol of the fight against police brutality in Kenya and the long-standing struggle for justice for victims of post-election violence.
