Christmas came early as former Kenyatta University lecturers received Ksh 46 million as compensation for torture damages they wentb through after the 1982 attempted coup.
According to the court ruling Edward Akong’o Oyugi (76), Mr Kamoji Wachira (75) and Mr Joseph Otieno Malo (78) were subject to harrassement, torture which was described as violation of the letter and spirit of chapter five of the previous constitution.
Justice John Mativo awarded Mr Oyugi and Wachira Sh20 million each for being held in detention under harsh conditions for two years while Mr Otieno was awarded Sh6 million because he was released after three days.
He further added saying that the effect of the torture left Mr Malo a shadow of his former self and he was not able to secure a job in the country.
Inn his statement, “Nevertheless, doing the best I can and considering both the physical and mental suffering, the destroyed career, the emotional suffering caused by separation from family members and the life threatening health complication both mental and physical attributed to brutality, I will award them damages.”
Two of the lecturers were arrested and accused of different offences , Mr Oyugi was accused of failing to disclose why he and others wanted to overthrow the government of President Daniel arap Moi, while Mr Wachira was accused of using students and plotting to overthrow the government.
The two were detained incommunicado at several prisons, including Kamiti, Shimo La Tewa and Hola prisons.
For Mr Otieno Malo, his was a case of mistaken identity since the police were looking for a Mr Alfred Otieno. But they still tortured him for three days.