Uhuru-Raila truce not enough - says baby Pendo family

Joseph Abanja, who was the father of Samantha Pendo, testifies in a public inquest into the death of his child, at a Kisumu court on February 19, 2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Baby Pendo died on August 15 last year after she was allegedly struck on the head by anti-riot police officers.

The family of the six-month-old baby who died as a result of police brutality in Kisumu says the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga is not enough to heal the wounds they suffered.

Samantha Pendo’s father called on the two leaders to engage the victims of the violence instead of using the media.

“As a person who lost a loved one, it hurts me more to see the two antagonists urging us to forgive and forget what happened when the matter is still fresh in our minds,” he said.

“During the State of the Nation address on Tuesday, the President asked for forgiveness and called on Kenyans to unite,” he said.

JUSTICE

Mr Abanja, who said his family felt neglected and abandoned, however, expressed optimism that the ongoing public inquest into Baby Pendo’s death at the Kisumu Magistrate Court will hand them justice.

“Some of the officials of the national and county government who promised to help us have abandoned us and don’t pick up our calls any more.

“On that account, we have decided to pick up the pieces and continue with our normal lives,” he told the Nation.

Mr Abanja thanked well-wishers who supported them emotionally and financially during the time of grief.

Baby Pendo died on August 15 last year after she was allegedly struck on the head by anti-riot police officers using a blunt object following protests that rocked Kisumu after President Kenyatta was declared the winner of the August 8 presidential election.