Law Society of Kenya warns UK over Mau Mau compensation

By ROSELYNE OBALA and KARANJA NJOROGE

Kenya: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has urged the British Government to be cautious in handling compensation to the former Mau Mau fighters.

It also sought to know the fate of other pending cases filed by other former freedom fighters in the United Kingdom (UK) after the British Government indicated that the Sh2.6 billion compensation meant to settle 5,222 former freedom fighters is in full and final settlement.

LSK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Apollo Mboya, in his letter to British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner, called for proper scrutiny of beneficiaries of the Sh2.6 billion award in order to avoid possible fraud.

Mboya, who is also the LSK Secretary, noted that the negotiated monies to settle 5,222 former freedom fighters should be done in a transparent manner. He regretted that Leigh Day (a British Law firm) representing the beneficiaries has declined to furnish LSK with a list of their clients.

Elsewhere, Mau Mau war veterans who settled in Rift Valley have called for vetting to establish genuine freedom fighters ahead of the planned compensation by the British Government. Speaking in Nakuru,  they said most families of former Mau Mau fighters in the area  have not been included in the compensation plans.

Njuguna Karanja from Njoro claimed that his father was among those detained by the colonial government between 1954 and 1958.

A Detainee Tax Exemption Payment certificate in his possession issued by the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya indicates his father was detained at Waithaka Works Camp in Kiambu.