This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On July 3, 2019, the Senate's National Security Defence and Foreign Relations committee ordered the government to pay 39 former soldiers Sh222 million for unfair dismissal and inhumane treatment during the 1982 coup attempt.
The case has been ongoing for 30 years, with the soldiers filing several petitions at the High Court and being awarded compensation by different judges on diverse dates.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo met with the committee, where they expressed frustration with the government's delay in paying the soldiers.
“The ministry should do everything possible to pay these people. We cannot allow it to punish these people further,” said committee chairman Yusuf Haji.
Senator Fred Outa accused CS Omamo of ignoring the court, thereby infringing upon the rights of the petitioners.
“We will not open a Pandora's box in a case where the court has already pronounced itself. We are all required to defend the Constitution. The soldiers have all done their parts where court procedures are concerned,” he said.
Ms Omamo explained that the ministry filed a notice of appeal on some of the cases that were settled 10 years ago, but her appeal was dismissed by Senator Moses Wetang'ula as a ploy to delay justice.
