This archive report was first published on 12 August 2020.
On August 12, 2020, a tragic incident shook the nation as a six-month-old infant, Samantha Pendo, died due to severe head injuries and internal bleeding after being attacked by police in Kisumu.
A post-mortem conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital revealed that Baby Pendo suffered an open cracked scalp with deep head injuries in the attack.
Government Consultant Pathologist Dickson Mchana confirmed that the baby died due to internal bleeding, stating, '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.'
The incident occurred during a protest against presidential results announced on Friday, when anti-riot police stormed the family's house in Nyalenda, hitting the parents on the head and breaking the door.
According to Baby Pendo's mother, Lancer Achieng, two officers broke the door and hit her before the third beat and knocked her to the ground, saying, '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.'
The family rushed Baby Pendo to Aga Khan Hospital, where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in critical condition but did not survive.
