Matiba not treated badly, court told

Veteran politician Kenneth Matiba was provided with bedding and did not sleep on the bare floor while in detention, a court heard Thursday.

An Assistant Commissioner of the Kenya Prisons Services, Mr Joshua Yuma, said Mr Matiba was treated just like other prisoners and detainees.

Mr Yuma, who was testifying in a case where the ailing politician has sued the State for billions of shillings, said all inmates slept on the floor but were provided with bedding.

“Mr Matiba was not treated badly. All inmates sleep on the floor as is common practice in all prisons,” he said.

Mr Matiba’s lawyer, Mr John Mburu, who was cross-examining the prisons officer, sought to know how he knew about the conditions his client was detained under yet he had not interacted with him during that period.

Admitting he never met Mr Matiba during his detention, Mr Yuma however said the same prison conditions apply to all inmates.

Initially, Mr Mburu objected to the Attorney-General calling more witnesses, saying this was a ploy to delay proceedings.

Although Justice Isaac Lenaola allowed two more witnesses, he declined to adjourn the case.

Justice Lenaola fixed the hearing date on February 9, 2016 when all the parties will be expected to make their submissions.

According to the petition Mr Matiba called a press conference on May 3, 1990 demanding a multi-party state.

Mr Matiba was arrested on July 4, 1990, four days ahead of the Saba Saba rally he had called and was taken to Lang’ata Police Station.

In the petition to the State Law office, Mr Matiba said his incarceration cost him Sh5.7 billion while he incurred medical expenses of  Sh9.1 million.

His detention lasted a year.