Government to Pay Sh945 Million Compensation to Kenneth Matiba

Kenya's second liberation hero Kenneth Matiba is set to receive Sh945 million from the government as compensation after Attorney General Githu Muigai consented to enhancement of his compensation from Sh504 million.

The Multi-party democracy crusader had earlier been awarded sh 504 million by the Court,as compensation for the loss his business empire suffered while in detention, but was later discovered that there was an error in the calculation arriving at the amount.

Last month, Supreme Court judge Isaac Lenaola ordered he be paid Sh504 million for the loss and torture he suffered in the hands of state agents. However, the correct calculations should have arrived at the Sh 945 million compensation.

The politician was diagnozed with stroke on May 26, 1991, but remained in detention without medication for one week.

Kenneth's compensation is the highest paid to a victim of torture so far. Justice Lenaola had handled the case at the High Court before he was promoted to the apex court.

In his ruling, judge Lenaola said that Matiba provided prove that great violations were meted upon him by state agents before he was released on June 4th, 1991.

Lenaola ruled that the State compensate him only 20 per cent of the Sh4,726,332,042 the former Kiharu MP had sought for losses after his business crumbled.

“Without him at the helm, the businesses deteriorated and some of them collapsed,” noted Justice Lenaola.

The judge also awarded the former Presidential candidate Sh15 million as damages and for violations suffered and Sh18,146,631 for medical expenses.