Veteran politician Kenneth Matiba has been awarded sh500 million by the Supreme Court for the suffering he went through during Retired President Daniel Moi’s era.
His woes began after launching a spirited campaign championing for multiparty democracy.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola ruled that he be paid the money to compensate for the torture he underwent through the hands of state agents.
The multiparty crusader on May 26, 1991, suffered a massive stroke but he remained in detention without any medication for one week.
He was later released on June 4, 1991.
Before Wednesday’s ruling, Matiba had been diagnosed with bleeding in his brain on Monday. Doctors said he requires urgent treatment to unblock his arteries.
“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,” said Justice Lenaola in his ruling read on his behalf by Justice Chacha Mwita as quoted by the Star.
Justice Lenaola noted Matiba’s current health condition was precipitated by the torture he underwent while in detention.
“It so greatly affected the business acumen, attention, focus, energy guidance and leadership that he was giving his companies,” he added.
Dr Dan Gikonyo, a cardiologist who testified in court said Matiba’s condition could have been managed if prompt medical treatment was sought.
The 85-year old politician was seeking Sh4, 726, 332, 042.91 as compensation. Matiba had said that his businesses collapsed while he was in detention.
But the Judge said it was only fair for the State to pay only 20 per cent of his claim.
Matiba got sh15 million for the torture and suffering he endured while in detention.
The Judge awarded him Sh18, 146, 631.52 to cater for medical expenses and a further sh471, 664, 258.50 to compensate for his financial losses.
Among the property he lost was the Hillcrest Group of schools which he sold off to pay off a loan he had secured with Barclays Bank.
He also lost Carbacid-a carbon dioxide manufacturer, Jadini, African and Safari beach hotels.
Matiba also lost millions of shillings worth of shares at the East African Breweries and the East African Portland Cement.
By Pharis Kinyua, an online journalist and Jamhuri News author