The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
A Kakamega granny has not seen a dime of her compensation money for an accident she was involved in way back in 1989.
It has been almost three decades of pain for Ezina Mbone Panyako (pictured), who claims she is yet to see the Sh251,000 that she was awarded by an insurance company through advocate Fredrick Nakhulo Wamalwa.
Her efforts to trace the lawyer for years have reportedly come to naught and her frequent visits to the city from Kakamega since 1996 have not borne any fruits. She claims the advocate has told her off about the payment.
Panyako was run over by a truck in May 1989 outside GSU headquarters along Thika Road and narrowly escaped death.
The mother of four recalls that, “I was waiting for the road to clear before crossing when the truck lost control and hit me.”
Panyako was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital with a fractured right leg, injured forehead, back and other injuries on the body. The advocate followed up the matter to seek compensation.
In civil suit number 335 of 1992 between Panyako and the truck driver Patrick Nguki, the judgment before the High Court was delivered on May 20, 1996.
The court directed that Panyako be paid Sh251,000 as compensation in addition to “special damages in the amount of Sh1,100, plus interest at 12 per cent from January 23, 1992, while Sh250,000 was awarded for general damages with interest from the date of judgment,” the ruling read in part.
After receiving the cash, Panyako claims the advocate vanished and would insult her whenever she visited his office at Liaison House along State House Avenue.
“I sold my land and other properties in Kakamega and used the money to travel to Nairobi,” says Panyako.
She adds that, “Now I have nothing else to do at my age but I am optimistic that justice will be served or the advocate will be arrested one day to feel the pain I have undergone.”
The Nairobian has since learnt that Fredrick Nakhulo Wamalwa changed his address and was even struck off the list of advocates over many other similar cases.
His profile, according to the Law Society of Kenya indicates that he has been dormant for more than a year and is temporarily not permitted to practice.
