News
The Dark Legacy
They were brutalised or killed by Moi’s agents and yet Wako has refused to pay compensation awarded by courts. The victims of Kenya’s darkest chapter won’t wait for the Truth and Reconciliation for a hearing
Posted Friday, August 21 2009 at 19:33
In Summary
- They were brutalised or killed by Moi’s agents and yet Wako has refused to pay compensation awarded by courts.
- The victims of Kenya’s darkest chapter won’t wait for the Truth and Reconciliation for a hearing
- How a small band of Moi agents wrote Kenya’s darkest chapter in a basement
Because they were regarded by prisons’ authorities as enemies of the state, conditions for the Nyayo House torture survivors who went to prison were made extra harsh.
Ironically, a lot of those who went to prison did so after pleading guilty to avoid the inhuman torture they were being subjected at Nyayo House. But it did not take long for them to realise that the difference between the torture in Nyayo House and in prison was more of time rather than intensity.
Because they wanted to achieve their goals in a short period the torturers at Nyayo House, James Opiyo and his group, did their job fast. But the prison conditions inflicted more pain and claimed more lives in the long run than Opiyo and his group in Nyayo House.
Political prisoners, including those jailed for the 1982 Air Force coup, were ridiculed and beaten by prison warders whenever an opportunity was found.
Indeed, the degrading treatment started immediately one entered the prison gates.
Maina wa Kinyatti tells his experience at Industrial Area Remand Prison: “Finally, I was escorted to the next check point.
‘Take off your clothes including your underwear and shoes and give them to that askari over there, then come back here,’ the guard ordered. I hesitated … I thought the guard was pulling my leg. ‘Professor, did you hear what I just said?’ The guard screamed.
“Reluctantly, I obeyed the order. He examined my ears, armpits, nostrils, genitals and then he commanded, ‘Turn around and bend over with your legs apart…Damn-it, bend over more… and if you fart, I will skin you alive.’”
“We Lived to Tell: The Nyayo House Story” is published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) © Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
© Citizens for Justice
Available at: http://kenya.fes-international.de/publications/live2tell.pdf
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Submitted by yesuwanguPosted August 29, 2009 07:30 AM
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Submitted by Mbirime
This story has a rather poor beginning though. How is circumcision supposed to be regarded by the reader? As an act meant for torture or as a rite of passage Onyango is rather unfamiliar with?
Posted August 28, 2009 11:36 AM -
Submitted by jungle
The likes of Opiyo and others( some in very powerful positions) should not go unpunished. The list should also be expanded to include those who did the same under Kenyatta and also under the colonial government, especially during "the Emergency" (the likes of Jeremiah Kiereini and Isaiah Mathenge). Kenyans have suffered under these goons and until something is done, the bitterness will remain. After this is done Kenyans might forgive, but Kenyans, time and history will never forget
Posted August 28, 2009 04:50 AM -
Submitted by msuper
the shocking thing however is that this is bound to happen again just think of the direction we have taken as a nation; corrupt judiciary, selfish leaders, tribal nation need i say more?
Posted August 27, 2009 04:43 PM -
Submitted by mzee_moja
Opiyo is now a retired Senior Police Officer. But still working, appointed on an even more senior position in a parastatal.The lady with the "KIUK" accent, bado keko tu kwa polisi kafala.I hope they can be added on the 4000 list for life at Kamiti. SHINDWE KASIA!!
Posted August 27, 2009 04:42 AM
RSS
the political children of moi who witnessed this injustices behind the scene are slowly going back to baba.Kalonzo was pretending to be asking forgiveness from Moi and Ruto in tranzoia.they still sing the same music congratulating moi for all he had done to them that is why they are where the are now like kalonzo said .The dark legacy helped them to be vp and ministers.while others still groaning.these men moi said are Kanu damu.they just changed cloths they are all using tactics against Raila.they had no reason to leave Kanu