High Court awards former Wundanyi MP Mwandawiro Mghanga Sh10m for torture

Mr Mghanga told the court that he was arrested on August 18, 1982 in Werugha, Taita Taveta by officers from the Special Branch Unit and was detained for 111 days without trial.PHOTO: COURTESY

The High Court has awarded former Wundanyi MP Mwandawiro Mghanga Sh10 million as damages for torture by the State in 1992.

Judge Isaac Lenaola ruled that the politician's rights were breached and ought to be compensated.

"A declaration is hereby made that the petitioner's (Mghanga) rights and freedoms were contravened and grossly violated by the respondent's special branch police officers. A global award of Sh10 million is adequate compensation for the petitioner," the judge ruled yesterday. He read the judgment for judge Chacha Mwita.

Mr Mghanga told the court that he was arrested on August 18, 1982 in Werugha, Taita Taveta by officers from the Special Branch Unit and was detained for 111 days without trial.

He also submitted that three years later, in 1985, he was again arrested and detained at Buru Buru police station where he was tortured. This time, he was pursuing a master's degree at the University of Nairobi.

On February 10, 1985 then as a university student, he was said to have inspected a guard of honour mounted by students.