Rubia family seeks Sh40bn as torture compensation

The family of multi-party hero Charles Rubia on Monday urged the High Court to order the State to compensate him with Sh40 billion for the torture he underwent in the hands of security agencies in the 1990s.

Making final submissions before Justice Weldon Korir, the family, through lawyer Irungu Kang’ata, said the State should pay Mr Rubia, who was detained twice for agitating for the reintroduction of multi-party democracy together with Mr Kenneth Matiba.

He said the former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament, who died on December 23, suffered from the cruelty he was subjected to and his business interests were thrown into disarray following his detention. He is seeking special damages and payment of Sh150 million for loss of business.

For its part, the State, through Christopher Marwa, said the detention was lawful and that Mr Rubia was not subjected to degrading treatment or torture as alleged. He urged the court to dismiss the case.

Mr Rubia served as Starehe MP and was a minister in several ministries, including Local Government. Mr Kang’ata said Mr Rubia had shares in several companies, including Provincial Insurance Ltd now UAP Insurance, ICDC Investment Company Ltd, Co-operative Bank, Kenya Mystery Tours Ltd, Rubia Enterprises Africa Ltd, Eveready Ltd, Unga Ltd, Universal Garments Ltd, East Africa Industries, and Insurance Company of East Africa, now ICEA Lion