By Wahome Thuku
Thika, Kenya: The High Court has awarded him Sh200,000 for having been publicly stripped and humiliated by the police, but he is now appealing against the ‘pitiable’ award.
Mr Alexander Nthungi will be moving to the Court of Appeal seeking to have the amount awarded by Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi increased.
His lawyers, Mbiyu Kamau and Daniel Wokabi, said though they were happy with the judgement, the amount was too little for such violation of rights.
Nthungi, who said he suffers from gender identity disorder, was stripped naked at Makongeni Police Station in Thika after being arrested on allegation of assault on January 14, 2011.
Violation of privacy
Police stripped him to confirm his sex since he was dressed in a woman’s clothes. The incidence was filmed and aired on TV. Female police officers pulled his hair and beat him up.
Nthungi then sued the State for humiliation and violation of his privacy.
He claimed the search by female officers was unlawful and degrading and caused him psychological anguish prompting him to seek counselling at Thika Level 5 Hospital.
Justice Ngugi in her ruling said no one should be subjected to such humiliation.
