Costs lock out victim’s family from justice

The family of a Nyayo House torture victim claims it was unable to seek compensation from the government due to legal technicalities.

Family members said the process was tedious and very expensive for them, and as a result, they could not benefit from the recent High Court judgment in favour of some 21 ex-detainees.

According to Mr John Kamangara’s family, they did not benefit from the Sh40 million awarded to the victims. “We did not have the capacity to follow up the matter to its conclusion in court,” Ms Mary Wambui said.

She said her father, a former Ford Kenya activist, died in 2001 after developing complications blamed on his ordeal at Nyayo House in 1986. He had been detained for 61 days.

His wife, Ms Esther Wambui, and her five children told journalists in Nakuru that they had expected those championing the push for victims’ compensation to include the politician.

“We welcome Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s intervention and remarks that the Attorney-General should withdraw pending cases for out-of-court settlement,” Ms Wambui said.

Mr Kamangara was arrested and detained for allegedly being a member of the then outlawed Mwakenya movement, which sought to remove the Kanu regime from power in the 1980s.

“He was arrested and held at Nyayo House in 1986 without food or water for 13 days and when he was released his health deteriorated,” she added.

Mr Odinga early this week opposed plans by the AG to appeal against the ruling awarding the ex-detainees Sh40 million.