The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP)
12 police officers accused of killing Baby Samantha Pendo in 2017 will plead to the charges on 15th January 2025, the High Court has ruled.
This is after two suspects Mohammed Baa, a senior police officer, and Linah Kosgey failed to attend court today.
Baa’s whereabouts are unknown despite court extending a warrant of arrest against him while Linah’s lawyer informed court her client was unwell and admitted in hospital.
Baa, Linah and 10 other senior officers namely Titus Yoma, Titus Mutune, John Chengo, Benjamin Koima, Benjamin Lorema, Volker Edambo, Cyprine Robe, Josphat Sensira, Mohammed Ali Guyo and James Rono are set to be charged with murder following the events of the 2017 Post-Election Violence.
During today’s mention of the case, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Vincent Monda, informed the court that the case is of public interest and all suspects must be present in court before the they take plea.
The charges were instituted under the International Crimes Act, 2008 considering the role played by each of the suspects on the basis of the international law principle of superior responsibility.
Lady justice Lilian Mutende also extended a warrant of arrest against Baa and directed Linah to file a medical report in Court.
Court also directed a senior police officer to attend court on 15th January 2025 and explain why Baa has not been arrested.
Mr. Alloys Kemo is the Deputy Director in the Department of Prosecution Training Institute (PTI). Mr. Kemo is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and was admitted to the bar on 1995. He holds a Master’s of Science in Leadership & Governance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) , LLB Degree from Nagpur University, and a postgraduate diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
Mr. Kemo has previously served as a Regional Head, Coast Region between 2019 to 2021 before heading to Rift Valley as a Regional head. He has also served as a deputy head in the Department of offences against the person and Head of the Penal Code Offences Division between 2013 to 2018 at the Office of the Direction of Public Prosecutions.
He has also been a member of several committees that developed key prosecution policies and guidelines such as; the ODPP Act of 2012, National Prosecution guidelines, the Diversion policy, Diversion guidelines, the Plea bargain guidelines and The Decision to Charge guidelines amongst others. He also attended several prosecution courses in various thematic areas and in management and in Leadership.
Mr. Kemo has vast experience electoral Justice and lead the ODPP Election Offences Prosecution Team in the 2017 National General Elections and also the ODPP Election Preparedness Committee in the 2022 National General Elections. He is a trainer and has facilitated external trainings and also internal training for ODPP staff.