The first two Presidents were brutal. If the Court rulings against government’s excesses are anything to go by, their administrations were marked with threats, illegal detentions and torture. In the worst case-scenario, death.
Koigi wa Wamwere under Kenyatta, Moi
This former Subukia Member of Parliament and Assistant Minister was first detained between August 9, 1975 and December 12, 1976. He was detained again from August 5, 1982 to December 12, 1984.
Koigi was tortured at Nyayo House for 11 days, from October 8, 1990 to October 19, 1990.
Kamiti Maximum Prison
He was then transferred to Kamiti Maximum Security Prison where he was tortured from October 19, 1990 to January 19, 1993.
The former Subukia MP said he was falsely arraigned in Nakuru on fake robbery with violence charges from November 5, 1993 to December 1996.
Compensation
More than 20 victims of torture during the Nyayo era led by former assistant minister Koigi wa Wamwere have written to the Treasury CS Henry Rotich over the delay of their compensation.
The 23 victims, who are demanding more than Sh154 million, said they need the money to cater for their medical bills, among other obligations.
Some of them, who obtained judgment against the government in 2012, are still waiting for the compensation.
Through lawyer Gitau Mwara, the victims said they served certificates of order to the Attorney General but were yet to receive the funds.
The lawyer said the money continues to attract interest, while some of the victims have obtained orders, seeking to commit permanent secretaries in the concerned ministries, to civil jail.
“We have been awarded payments for torture, personal injury and employment claims but it is becoming another torture to be paid by the Treasury. Why?” reads part of the letter to Mr Rotich.
Mr Wamwere is demanding a total of Sh23.6 million, while Ms Irene Wangari and six others demand Sh26.6 million. Mr Rogers Godfrey Wafula and others are demanding Sh30 million, while Ruth Wangari Thungu is waiting to be paid Sh3 million.
While awarding some of the victims, the judges ruled that they were persuaded that the victims proved to the required standards that they were physically tortured and subjected to unwarranted cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Mr Kuria Chege Wamere, an uncle to Mr Wamwere, who was awarded Sh4 million, was arrested at his home in Engashura, Nakuru and questioned about his family relationship with his nephew.