Mwatikho is a community based Human Rights organization comprising of torture sun/ivors and families of torture victims with interest of advocating for the stamping out of torture; creation of Human Rights awareness; identification and recruiting of other torture survivors; networking with other organization against torture; rehabilitation of the survivors through counselling and creation of Hope; advocacy for reparation and economic emancipation of the survivors and finally carrying out monitoring and documentation of torture.

By PETER  OPIYO

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has differed with Attorney General Amos Wako on plans to appeal against the award of Sh40 million to Nyayo House torture survivors.

The PM, who hosted some of the torture victims, at his Karen home, said the Sh40 million awarded as compensation was just a, token.

"It is unfortunate that the AG, without consultation, made such statements," said the PM.

There are similar tortures cases in court, but Raila said the Government was keen to settle them out of court

"We will talk to the AG to withdraw some of the cases so that we have out of court settlement," said the PM;

Last week, the High Court ordered the Government to pay Sh40 mil­lion to 21 victims  tortured by State security agents about 20 years ago.

LAWYER  SPEAKS

Lawyer Rumba Kinuthia, who rep-resented the .survivors in Court, also criticized the AG for seeking an appeal against the order.'

"The AG does not  believe these people were tortured and incarcerated, he should seek out of court settlement rather than wait for court or­ders," said Mr Kinuthia,

Lands Minister James Orengo and the PM's wife Ida said the Proposed Constitution would herald a new be-ginning and ensure human rights are protected.

"We have an opportunity to get a new constitution that will change that kind of life. We must have the current constitution changed and have a new life," said Ida.

Raila was confident the Proposed Constitution would be endorsed at the August 4 plebiscite, saying it ac­cords protection to human rights, which can only be amended through a referendum, not Parliament.

The PM, who underwent minor head surgery last month, said he was recovering fast, but doctors had asked him to stay indoors for days.

The IRCT is the umbrella for 143 independent torture rehabilitation organisations in over 70 countries. Members in Kenya are IMLU, based in Nairobi and Mwatikho Torture Survivors Organization (MATESO) based in Bungoma. Each year IRCT members treat more than 100,000 torture survivors and their families. IRCT’s vision is a world that values and accepts shared responsibility for the eradication of torture. IRCT seeks to promote and support the rehabilitation of torture victims and work for the prevention of torture.

It is also a great honor that for the first time in twenty-five years that the IRCT council meeting was held in Africa and specifically in Kenya. In addition, it is also the first time that the president of IRCT comes from Africa.

In 1995, Taiga Wanyanja was in a torture chamber at Naivasha GK Prison outside of the Kenyan capitol, Nairobi. He never thought he would survive.

Taiga Wanyanja was in a torture chamber at Naivasha GK Prison. (Courtesy Photo)

Wanyanja, a husband and a father of two, was arrested on a charge involving a movement against the government of the East African nation. He says the allegations were false, but it didn’t matter to the Kenyan government.

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"Bring the Gun or You’ll Die"

"All The Men Have Gone"

Kenya: "Trained in Terror"

This is not a question of a few bad apples disobeying orders. This operation was the result of a strategy devised by senior officials to use brutal force against Kenyan citizens.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch