Nearly a decade after Baby Samantha Pendo was killed during the 2017 post-election violence, Kisumu County has dedicated a botanical park in her honour, transforming what was once the Kachok dumpsite into a public recreational space and a permanent reminder of the tragedy that claimed the life of the six-month-old infant.
The newly unveiled Baby Pendo Botanical Park commemorates the infant who died after she was shot by police in Nyalenda during the post-election unrest. The facility now serves as a place where residents can gather, relax and reflect on a painful chapter in the city's history. Speaking during the unveiling on Wednesday, Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o said the transformation of the former dumpsite reflects the county's efforts to improve public spaces while preserving the memory of Baby Pendo. He recalled that just 10 years ago, the area was buried under piles of garbage and was not a place where families could comfortably spend time with their children. Nyong'o said converting the land into a botanical park demonstrates Kisumu's commitment to creating clean and accessible recreational spaces for the public while ensuring that the events surrounding Baby Pendo's death are not forgotten. He said the park will continue to stand as a symbol of remembrance for the infant, whom he described as a heroine to both Kisumu and the country. The governor also revisited the painful memories of the day Baby Pendo was killed, recalling his visit to the family's home shortly after the incident. "Mama and Baba Pendo have come here today, reminding us of the violence that followed the 2017 election, and that saw an innocent six-month-old baby leave this earth because a policeman had shot her. And that was there, Mama Pendo will tell you, when I arrived at that house and saw her baby. She was breastfeeding in her arms. It's not a sight that you want to remember," said Nyong'o. The Baby Pendo Botanical Park now stands as both a green public space and a memorial dedicated to an infant whose death remains one of the most painful memories of the 2017 post-election violence.