Prison Commandant boss sued over torture of five inmates

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

Kisumu, Kenya: A lawyer in Kisumu has sued Prisons Commandant Isaiah Osugo over torture of five inmates.

The inmates at Kibos Main Prison in Kisumu County are alleged to have been tortured during a raid for contraband on February 13.

Lawyer Jamsumbah Onyango told the High Court sitting in Kisumu that on February 14, he went to the prison seeking to visit and interview the five but was denied the opportunity to see them. Prison officials told him the previous night they was a problem.

He told Justice Hillary Chemitei that out of curiosity, he found out from prison warders that prisoners were unlawfully tortured and they sustained serious injuries. Those who were badly injured were not allowed to see their relatives or advocates. He has sued Osugo, Wilson Okomba (in-charge of the prison) and Attorney General Githu Muigai.

Treatment

Justice Chemitei ordered him to serve relevant parties in the case before the matter is mentioned on March 10.

This was after Onyango, who is representing George Mwololo, Stephen Nyongesa, Dennis ole Sitima, Hassan Mohammed and Paul Lusiti asked the court to order that his clients be produced for treatment.