Parents agony over son’s death case continues

By PAMELA CHEPKEMEI

Kenya: The Attorney General did not turn up in court yesterday for the hearing of a Sh10 million compensation case by parents of a university student shot dead 15 years ago by police officers.

High Court judge Weldon Korir was informed by the family’s lawyer, Betty Rashid, that the AG had been notified of yesterday’s hearing but there was no representative from the State law office present.

The parents of the student, Prof Peter Odhiambo and Ms Peninah Ochola Odhiambo, sued the Government for the death of their son James Ochola Odhiambo, alias Jordan.

James Ochola was shot dead by police officers on July 27, 1998, on mistaken identity that he was a carjacker. The court awarded them Sh10 million last year but they have not been paid by the Ministry of Finance.

They have filed a second suit to have the Government compelled to release the cash. The judge directed the lawyer to file submissions and serve the AG within seven days.

The parties will appear before the court again on October 14 to present the final arguments. The couple had filed a suit against the Government for the loss of their son’s life who was shot by police on mistaken identity.

They have sued the Office of the President for failing to abide by the order made by the High Court for them to be paid.  Prof Odhiambo and his wife have filed a judicial review application asking the court to compel the Principal Secretary in charge of Office of the President to release the money.

The case has been certified as urgent and the couple allowed to seek orders against the AG and the Principal Secretary in the Office of the President.