Kenyan court charges four police officers over baby's death after 2017 elections
NAIROBI, May 5 (Reuters) - A Kenyan court on Monday charged four police officers with crimes against humanity over accusations of killing a baby during a crackdown on protests after a disputed election in 2017, according to court documents, media and rights groups.
Charges against eight other officers were dropped due to what the prosecutor's office said was insufficient evidence, Citizen Television reported, in a move that was condemned by rights campaigners including Amnesty's Kenya chapter.
The four officers pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to local media reports.
Police in the East African nation frequently face accusations of brutality and extrajudicial killings from civilians and rights groups, but officers are rarely charged and almost never convicted.
Six-month-old Samantha Pendo died in August 2017 in the western city of Kisumu after officers threw tear gas into her home, suffocating and beating her, according to her mother's testimony at the time, opens new tab.
An inquest into the incident was opened in November that year. The prosecutor's office recommended that 12 officers be charged with the deaths of Pendo and 39 other protesters during countrywide protests challenging the outcome of the 2017 presidential vote.
Thirty Kenyan rights groups, including Amnesty, condemned the prosecutor's decision to drop the charges against eight of the officers, saying it was done without the involvement of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, which investigated the case.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Husband of Scottish man murdered in Kenya pays tribute to 'love of his life'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The husband of a Scottish businessman murdered and found in a sack of pineapples in Kenya has paid tribute to the "absolute love of his life." Simon Farrer paid tribute to his partner Campbell Scott, from Dunfermline, as a prime suspect in the horror murder case made a bid for freedom on Tuesday, June 17. Mr Scott was discovered in a sack of pineapples about 60 miles from where he was last seen in Nairobi in February. Suspect Alex Mutua, a Kenyan national, pleaded not guilty to killing the 58-year-old. Mutua appeared at a court hearing which was watched online by Mr Scott's heartbroken family and husband, Simon Farrer. Simon and Campbell had been together for more than three decades as tributes were led to a "once in a lifetime" partner, reports the Daily Record. Mr Farrer said: "How do you condense all those years we were living together? There was love and support, respect, honesty and patience. (Image: Daily Record) "Campbell really was once in a lifetime and touched many people in many ways. People said everyone should have a Campbell in their life. His generosity was there for everyone. No matter what situation you were in, he was the first to offer help. "If you needed money he would give you his last penny. He was the absolute love of my life and we made memories I'll cherish forever. "A friend once said 'where there's a Campbell, there's a Simon'. Now there's just me and the memories. He's left a huge hole in everyone's lives that can never be filled." Mr Scott was attending a conference at the JW Marriot Hotel in the Kenyan capital on February 16. The senior director at a credit scoring firm was last seen leaving the hotel with a man before taking a taxi to a residential area. His body was then discovered by herders in a remote forest on February 22. His husband, who he entered into a civil partnership with in 2010, watched the man charged with killing him, Alex Mutua, appear in court on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege that Mutua took Mr Scott to his house in the neighbourhood of Pipeline where he was murdered after he, and others, tried to withdraw money using the businessman's credit cards. Another man wanted by police over the murder is understood to have taken his own life in March while two suspects remain on the run. Those men have been named as Benard Mbunga Mbusu and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages Albunus Mutinda Nzioki was previously arrested but is now to appear as a witness in the case. Prosecution advocate Ms Ogweno told the court that Mutua was a "flight risk" and had been known to "lure" victims online with accomplices. She said: "We are apprehensive he is likely to regroup with the two other accomplices." Defence lawyer Mr Khadondi told the court there was no evidence to support the prosecution's case for bail and Mutua has a "constitutional right" to be released pending trial. He said: "The seriousness of the charge alone is not a compelling reason to deny my client bail. He has strong family ties to the community and has no intention to flee from justice. "He is entitled to liberty pending trial unless there are compelling reasons to justify his continued detention, which the prosecution has not adequately presented to this court". He added: "The assistant chief and villagers at his rural home describe him as a person of good morals within the community and he has no history of misconduct." The bail decision was deferred until later this year.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Husband of Scot murdered in Kenya pays tribute to 'love of his life' as suspect makes freedom bid
Campbell Scott, from Dunfermline, Fife, was found dead in a sack of pineapples about 60 miles from where he was last seen in the capital of Nairobi in February. The husband of a Scots businessman murdered in Kenya has paid tribute to the 'absolute love of his life' as a prime suspect made a bid for freedom yesterday. Campbell Scott, from Dunfermline, Fife, was found dead in a sack of pineapples about 60 miles from where he was last seen in the capital Nairobi in February. Alex Mutua, a Kenyan national who has pleaded not guilty to killing the 58-year-old, appeared at a court hearing watched online by Mr Scott's heartbroken family and husband Simon Farrar, to make a case for bail. The hearing came after Mr Farrar led tributes to his 'once in a lifetime' partner of 35 years at a celebration of his life. Mr Farrar said: 'How do you condense all those years we were living together? There was love and support, respect, honesty and patience. 'Campbell really was once in a lifetime and touched many people in many ways. People said everyone should have a Campbell in their life. His generosity was there for everyone. No matter what situation you were in, he was the first to offer help. 'If you needed money he would give you his last penny. He was the absolute love of my life and we made memories I'll cherish forever. 'A friend once said 'where there's a Campbell, there's a Simon'. Now there's just me and the memories. He's left a huge hole in everyone's lives that can never be filled.' Mr Scott, a senior director for a credit scoring firm, was last seen attending a conference at the JW Marriot Hotel in Nairobi on February 16. He was seen leaving his hotel with a man and before taking a taxi to a residential area in Nairobi. His body was discovered by herders inside a sack of pineapples in a remote forest southeast of the city on February 22. His husband, who he entered into a civil partnership with in 2010, watched the man charged with killing him, Alex Mutua, appear in court yesterday. Prosecutors allege that Mutua took Mr Scott to his house in the neighbourhood of Pipeline where he was murdered after he, and others, tried to withdraw money using the businessman's credit cards. Another man wanted by police over the murder is understood to have taken his own life in March while two suspects remain on the run. Those men have been named as Benard Mbunga Mbusu and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Albunus Mutinda Nzioki was previously arrested but is now to appear as a witness in the case. Prosecution advocate Ms Ogweno told the court that Mutua was a 'flight risk' and had been known to 'lure' victims online with accomplices. She said: 'We are apprehensive he is likely to regroup with the two other accomplices.' Defence lawyer Mr Khadondi told the court there was no evidence to support the prosecution's case for bail and Mutua has a 'constitutional right' to be released pending trial. He said: 'The seriousness of the charge alone is not a compelling reason to deny my client bail. He has strong family ties to the community and has no intention to flee from justice. 'He is entitled to liberty pending trial unless there are compelling reasons to justify his continued detention, which the prosecution has not adequately presented to this court'. He added: 'The assistant chief and villagers at his rural home describe him as a person of good morals within the community and he has no history of misconduct.' The bail decision was deferred until later this year.
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘I know where Ayatollah is hiding,' says Trump but ‘won't kill him for now' – as Israel warns he may HANG like Saddam
EASY TARGET 'I know where Ayatollah is hiding,' says Trump but 'won't kill him for now' – as Israel warns he may HANG like Saddam DONALD Trump has sent a direct warning to Iran's Ayatollah saying he is an "easy target" with the US and Israel knowing exactly where he is hiding. Israel threatened the Supreme Leader just hours earlier saying he will face the same grisly fate as Iraq's Saddam Hussein who was hanged by his own people if he doesn't start to negotiate soon. 5 Donald Trump has sent a direct warning to Iran's Ayatollah saying he is an 'easy target' with the US and Israel knowing exactly where he is hiding. Credit: AP 5 Trump posted a trio of Truths on the ongoing conflict in Iran Credit: Truth Social 5 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was warned he could be ousted by his own people like Sadam Hussein Credit: Reuters 5 Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building was smoking after a direct Israeli strike Credit: REXNEWS The threat of regime change came after Trump demanded a "real end" to Iran's nuclear programme which is the root of the ongoing conflict. And the US president cranked up pressure on the evil mullah's crumbling reign by firing a warning as he moved the might of America's war machine towards the war zone. The US leader called for an "unconditional surrender" in a trio of Truth Social posts as he told Tehran they have lost complete control of the skies after five days of Israeli airstrikes. Trump refused to say he would allow Israel to kill Khamenei "for now" but did warn his patience is wearing thin. But Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Khamenei should "remember what happened to the dictator in the neighbouring country" - directly referring to the death of Saddam Hussein. Fanatical Islamist terror stoker Khamenei, 86, and his family are believed to have bolted to a fortified underground hiding place in a suburb of capital Tehran. He went to ground after swathes of military top brass and nuclear scientists were wiped out in in simultaneous surgical strikes at the start of Israel's Operation Rising Lion on Friday. America's involvement in the Middle East has been widely speculated in the past 24 hours with Trump even ditching the G7 summit on Monday as he urged Tehran to evacuate "everyone". The president is said to have rushed back to Washington to convene a meeting in the White House Situation Room over Iran today. He has refused to specify the endgame, but has ominously warned: "You're going to find out over the next two days." But two Israeli officials have told Axios they believe Trump is likely to enter the war in the coming days. Israel has started to boast it is "on the verge of destroying" at least ten nuclear targets in Iran and could soon attack the mountain-fortress Fordow facility. The nuclear watchdog confirmed for the first time today it had detected "direct hits" on the key underground enrichment zone of Iran's Natanz nuclear site. Israel and Iran have continued to trade missiles today, with Tehran's civilians fleeing the city in their thousands and a handful of casualties reported by Tel Aviv. The IDF said it has killed Iran's most senior military commander - and the person closest to the Supreme Leader - for the second time in five days. Iran claimed it had hit the HQ of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad - though this has not been confirmed - and repeatedly warned of stepping up missile and drone attacks. Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed. 5 Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog below...
