Kenya Airforce officers feared Raila to sue state over 1982 coup

NAIROBI, KENYA: Ten former Kenya
Airforce officers have told the court it had
taken them 30 years to sue the
government because they feared the
then Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The officers who are seeking
compensation for torture they suffered
after 1982 coup said Raila, who was in
both the retired President Moi and Kibaki
government had acknowledged to have
played a role in the abortive coup.
“There was no way we could sue the
government as Raila was also in Kibaki
government, “former senior private with
Kenya Air force James Thandi told Justice
Isaac Lenaola, adding that no lawyer was
even willing to represent them.
Thandi was hesitant to tell the court why
it had taken them 30 years to move to
court saying it would pose security risk to
him but after assurances from the Judge,
he said they were afraid they wouldn’t
get justice while Raila was in government.
“Unless the session is held in camera,
Iam afraid to tell the court why we did
not come to court during Kibaki regime,
for security reasons, “he told the court.
The officers who testified before court
recalled how they were held in detention
of between 61 and 143 days before they
were charged before a court martial.
They told the court that during trial
immediately after the coup, the officers
were arrested on assumption that they
participated in the failed military coup.
They told the court they were subjected
to torture including being stripped naked
in public, kicked around, being made to
walk on their knees on concrete floors
and whipped.
The petitioners in the case are Gerald
Gichohi,Kumphrey Shume,Peter
Kariuki,James Thandi,David Mwangi and
Francis Kuwona.
Others are Obadiah Mwambonu,Placide
Edward,John Thairu and Lawrence
Warukira.
They told the court that being junior
officers, they were forced by their seniors
to plead guilty to the charges on the
promise that they would get their jobs
back.
“I almost fainted when the court martial
told me that the offence of mutiny carries
life sentence but due to my sickness, I
was given 20 years behind bars which was
later reduced to 2 years, ‘he told the
court.
The officers want the court to declare
that the brutal arrest, inhuman and
degrading treatment inflicted on them
was a violation rights and freedoms.
They also want the court to declare that
the long period of time they were locked
up before they were charged before a
court martial was unlawful.

Standard

Category: