Ailing veteran politician Kenneth Matiba was today awarded Sh504million compensation for his illegal detention and torture that rendered him physically incapacitated in 1991.
In his judgment, Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola said Matiba’s mistreatment and torture by State security agents during the crackdown on proponents of multi-party democracy was totally unjustifiable.
While Justice Lenaola heard the constitutional petition , the judgment was read on his behalf by Justice Enock Chacha-Mwita while lawyer John Mburu represented Matiba.
The expansive democratic space Kenyans are presently enjoying was opened up by Matiba and other opposition stalwarts who defied the dictatorship of retired President Daniel arap Moi’s regime.
“The State must now wake up to the reality that past conduct of its officials and agents will no longer remain unpunished,” Justice Lenaola said.