Kenneth Matiba Awarded Sh504 Million for Detention, Torture
Kenneth Matiba, a veteran politician and former multi-party crusader has been awarded Sh504 million by a Kenyan court for torture he endured while in detention in 1991.
Matiba was jailed by the Moi regime along with Charles Rubia in the height of the fight for multi-party democracy in 1991.
Supreme Court judge Isaac Lenaola handed the amount to Matiba for the torture he endured, as well as in compensation for his business losses.
Judge Lenaola, who took the case while still at the High Court, said Matiba suffered a serious stroke on May 26, 1991 while in detention but remained untreated for a whole week. As a result of the stroke, the judge said that Matiba lost his business acumen and energy upon his release from detention leading to the collapse of most of his businesses.
“Real justice can be expensive and nothing in compensation can return Kenneth Stanley Jindo Matiba to the sprightly and fit man that he was before his detention,” Justice Lenaola said in his rulling.
“[His incarceration and torture] so greatly affected the business acumen, attention, focus, energy guidance and leadership that he was giving his companies,” Lenaola said.
Judge Lenaola awarded Matiba Sh471,664,258.50 as compensation for financial losses, Sh18,146,631.52 for medical costs and Sh15 million for mistreatment by state officers while in detention.
Matiba had sued for Sh4.7 billion, which he said was the worth of his collapsed businesses.
Matiba, now 85, living in relative poverty and confined to a wheelchair, was once one of the richest Kenyans. His empire at the time comprised the Hill Crest Group of School, African and Safari Beach Hotels, and Cabarcid Limited among others. He also held shares worth hundreds of millions of shares in several companies.
Comments (6)
Pole sana Matiba. We sang tawala Kenya tawala. Now we will cough 504M of our money (tax). Moi is getting is pension very month and other benefits
Yes. correcting a wrong years later can be pretty expensive.Now why should taxpayer cough this compensation?
I believe that there are culprits who can directly be connected to Matiba's suffering. Let them pay.I dont thing tax payers had anything to do with it.Or benefited from his suffering.
And how about the other 2nd Liberation Fighters who suffered too? Or I guess they need to Sue if they want.
Wah ... boss, you are still stuck on the 2nd liberation .... we are currently on the 4th liberation ... every election is termed by the opposition as a liberation ... I think my 2 yr old son is on target to lead the 15th liberation and his stronghold will be Kibera ... yes, kibera will still be a slum 45yrs into the future when you and I are no longer around ... It must remain a slum so that future liberators can use it as a stronghold .... tafakari hayo
The hard working Kenyan tax payer should not have the Kenyan treasury pay our Hero Matiba this amount of money. Why should we pay matiba this amount of money when the man responsible for his torture and suffering (Dr. Kipkorios Toroitich Arap Moi) a billionaire (in US dollars) is still alive enjoying the loot that he stole while in power (golden-berg scandal) for 24 years? He should be required to pay Matiba not only what the court decided, but half of all what he stole while he terrorized the heroes of the second Kenya liberation in Nyayo House. As a matter of fact, this building should be demolished. This building is similar to the statues that are being demolished in the USA of the late supporters of slavery at the moment.
During the last election the people of Kenya committed a grave mistake. They re-elected (uhuru and Ruto) Toroitich's sycophants who remained totally silent but sang the famous Kenyan oppressive song: "Tawala Kenya tawala."
We should impeach Uhuru and Ruto and ask Matiba to be the president of Kenya. He never sang " Tawala Kenya tawala."
Long live all the heroes of the second Kenyan Liberation.
The real HERO.