The parents of the late Baby Samantha Pendo, the six-month-old infant whose death became a tragic symbol of police brutality during the 2017 post-election violence, fought back tears today during the official opening of a modern public recreational park named in honor of their late daughter.
The emotional commissioning of the Baby Pendo Recreational Park was presided over by Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o alongside the Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, Charles Hinga.
The park is designed not only as a green public utility space for residents but also as a permanent historical monument to peace and transitional justice.
Speaking at the launch, Lencer Achieng, the mother of the late infant, recalled the harrowing night security forces raided their home in Kisumu’s Nyalenda estate, leading to the fatal assault on her daughter.
“I only enjoyed the company of my daughter for just six months before she was taken away from me,” Ms. Achieng said, her voice heavy with emotion. “This is something that I would not want any parent to go through again. I stand here today, not only as a mother but as a Kenyan who believes in justice and hope. Her life was cut short, and her only crime was that she was born at a time when conflict and brute force overshadowed the value of human life.”
The creation of the park marks a significant milestone in local urban renewal and memory preservation efforts in Kisumu, an area heavily impacted by historical cycles of electoral conflict.
Achieng expressed hope that the green space would serve a higher civic purpose for future generations.
“This is more than a recreational park; it is a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of political violence,” she noted. “May we never witness such a tragedy in our lifetime again.”
The launch occurs amid a shifting political landscape in Western Kenya.
A majority of political leaders from the Nyanza region have increasingly distanced themselves from confrontational politics, publicly vowing never to lead members of the public into violent street demonstrations again, favoring instead institutional dialogue and structured economic development.
