PEV victims lose case against State

Three Eldoret residents, who lost property worth millions of shillings during the 2007-08 post election violence, have lost their bid to have the Government compelled to compensate them.

Justices Isaac Lenaola, Mumbi Ngugi and Cecilia Githua ruled that three petitioners, who moved to court over five years ago, failed to prove that the State had deliberately failed to protect them and their property from violence.

Charles Murigu Murithii, Newton Mbugua and Paul Mwangi Ngugi had filed separate petitions where they sought compensation alleging violations of their fundamental freedoms as enshrined in Sections 70 and 75 of the old Constitution. Mr Murithi alleged that on December 30, 2007, an armed gang raided his home but when he alerted the police from Eldoret Police Station he got no response and lost property worth Sh8,075,900.

Mr Mbugua had also claimed that an armed gang raided his home on the same date and stole seven dairy cattle, 170 bags of maize and 34 bags of beans among other valuables valued at Sh14,157,000. Ngugi said he lost property worth Sh8,335,000.