Twelve police chiefs believed to bear the greatest responsibility for the killing of Baby Pendo during the 2017 post-election chaos in Kisumu will today be charged with her murder.

Suspects; Titus Yoma, Titus Mutune, John Chengo, Linah Kogey, Benjamin Koima, Benjamin Lorema, Volker Edambo, Cyprine Robi, Josphat Sensira, Mohammed Ali Guyo, Mohammed Baa and James Rono were first arraigned in 2022 but have not submitted another plea.

The delay is mainly due to a case they put together challenging their prosecution.

Through their lawyers, the officers initially criticized the proposed charges in a preliminary objection until Judge Kanyi Kimondo ruled in July 2024 that the suspects had been properly arraigned and should plead to the charges.

He ordered all the suspects to be physically present in court on October 3 for the plea.

However, the plea was again delayed as the eleventh suspect, Mohammed Baa, was not present in court.

Baa has never appeared since his colleagues were arraigned and has not been arrested despite numerous arrest warrants.

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda told Judge Kimondo that the nature of the charges required all the suspects to plead together.

The suspects face 47 charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and rape.

Monda requested that the case be adjourned for a month so that the police can arrest Baa and produce him in court for recognizance.

Justice Kimondo adjourned the plea despite strong opposition from stakeholders, including human rights groups who are also parties to the case.

They said the delay amounted to trampling on the rights of the victims.

Today, the suspects are expected to appear before Magistrate Lillian Mutende to plead to the charges.

Baby Pendo, who died after being hit by a blunt object while riot police were chasing protesters into their compound, became the face of victims.

Police commanders are said to bear responsibility for the actions and inactions of their juniors who were under their command.