Former Kenya Airforce soldiers link Raila Odinga to 1982 failed coup

By Lucianne Limo

NAIROBI, KENYA: Ten former Kenya Airforce officers have told the court it had taken them 30 years to sue the government because they feared the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The officers who are seeking compensation for torture they suffered after 1982 coup said Raila, who was in both the retired President Moi and Kibaki government had acknowledged having played a role in the abortive coup.

“There was no way we could sue the government as Raila was also in Kibaki government," former senior private officer with Kenya Air force James Thandi told Justice Isaac Lenaola, adding that no lawyer was willing to represent them.

Thandi was hesitant to tell the court why it had taken them 30 years to move to court saying it would pose security risk to him but after assurances from the Judge, he said they were afraid they wouldn’t get justice while Raila was in government.

“Unless the session is held in camera, I am afraid to tell the court why we did not come to court during Kibaki regime, for security reasons, “he told the court.

The officers who testified before court recalled how they were held in detention for between 61 and 143 days before they were charged before a court martial.

They told the court that during trial immediately after the coup, the officers were arrested on assumption that they participated in the failed military coup.

They told the court they were subjected to torture including being stripped naked in public, kicked around, being made to walk on their knees on concrete floors and whipped.

The petitioners in the case are Gerald Gichohi,Kumphrey Shume,Peter Kariuki,James Thandi,David Mwangi and Francis Kuwona.

Others are Obadiah Mwambonu,Placide Edward,John Thairu and Lawrence Warukira.

They told the court that being junior officers, they were forced by their seniors to plead guilty to the charges on the promise that they would get their jobs back.

“I almost fainted when the court martial told me that the offence of mutiny carries life sentence but due to my sickness, I was given 20 years behind bars which was later reduced to 2 years," he told the court.

The officers want the court to declare that the brutal arrest, inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on them was a violation rights and freedoms.

They also want the court to declare that the long period of time they were locked up before they were charged before a court martial was unlawful.