The National Police Service (NPS) has informed the court that one of the key suspects in the murder of Baby Samantha Pendo remains untraced, nearly eight years after the tragic incident that sparked widespread public anger.
Retired police officer Mohammed Baa, who was among 11 suspects linked to the fatal police crackdown in Kisumu in 2017, has never been apprehended.
Police say attempts to locate him at his rural Wajir County home have been unsuccessful.
“The homestead appeared deserted, with no visible signs of human movement,” investigators told the court.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed it has reviewed the case in light of new developments and made amendments to the case file.
“In view of the report, the ODPP has reviewed the case and amended the information accordingly,” prosecutors submitted.
However, the defence team raised concerns noting that the nature and scope of the amendments have not been publicly disclosed.
The Baby Pendo case dates back to **August 2017**, when six-month-old Samantha Pendo died after sustaining severe injuries during a police operation to quell post-election protests in **Kisumu**. Her death shocked the nation and drew sharp criticism of police brutality and the lack of accountability within the security forces.
A public inquest later found multiple officers culpable, leading to a push for justice from human rights groups, the public, and the judiciary.
To date, 11 suspects have been brought to court in connection with the murder. Of these, seven senior officers were released, while four others were formally charged. Charges against Baa were dropped due to his continued absence.
