This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
On August 12, 2017, a peaceful night turned into a nightmare for Lancer Ochieng and her family. Police officers stormed into their house, throwing a teargas canister that forced them out. In the chaos, an officer hit six-month-old Samantha Pendo on the head, causing her to die.
Lancer, the mother of the deceased baby, has now sued President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto, alleging police brutality during the 2017 post-election violence. In court documents, she explains how police officers used excessive force on her family, despite them posing no danger.
According to the court papers, Lancer and her husband Joseph Abanja ran out of the house to avoid choking from the teargas. At the time, she was holding baby Pendo close to her chest when an officer turned towards her and hit the child on the head.
"It was a peaceful night at around 1am or thereabouts. Police officers, without any justifiable reason, stormed into the petitioner’s house and threw a canister," the papers filed by lawyer Joan Neto read in part.
Lancer claims that the police did not consider the family’s safety when they threw teargas into the house. She argues that the death of her child has caused her pain and suffering, and that despite the perpetrators being identified, the Government has not brought them to book.
The case will be heard on November 5, 2019.
