Former Starehe MP Charles Rubia has moved to court over illegal detention and torture he was subjected to during 80s and 90s by Daniel Moi regime.
Mr Rubia, who spent several months in various holding cells with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in total, wants the government to pay him Sh40 billion.
Through his lawyer Irungu Kang'ata, Rubia now says he deserves the compensation due to agony he went through including discrimination by government in service delivery.
“Our intention is to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Mr Rubia is compensated for the illegal treatment and torture he underwent and from which he has never recovered,” Mr Irungu Kang’ata, the lawyer for Mr Rubia, told the Sunday Nation.
The former political detainee is seeking Sh5 billion as compensation for general damages, Sh5 billion for exemplary damages and moral damages, Sh20 billion as compensation for all medical and related costs and Sh10 billion for any other relief.
Further, he wants Sh40,674,544 for special damages and Sh150 million for loss of businesses, calculated with interest as from May 1991 to date of payment.
In the court documents, Rubia argues that he lost his businesses and his children could not get formal employment due to harsh treatment by KANU government.
“Thereafter, he underwent vigorous and prolonged treatment in Kenya and London. Despite this, the petitioner was left with severe disabilities in his speech among others … To date, the petitioner continues to receive treatment and shall continue to do so for the rest of his life,” the court documents state.
After losing his seat in 1988, Rubia was among those who engaged the government in battles to restore democracy. He was arrested three days to 1990 Saba Saba day.
Unlike his comrades like James Orengo and Raila Odinga, Rubia quit active politics due to ill health and other complications. He has since been engaged in personal businesses.