By Agwanda Saye.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has received lists of Ex-Mau Mau Fighters seeking compensation running into billions of shillings from the British Government.
LSK Secretary/CEO Mr. Apollo Mboya said that two law firms involved with the compensation suits complied with a formal request by the LSK to supply the lists.
“Miller and Company Advocates (on behalf of Tandem Law in the UK) have sent us a list of over 8,000 former Mau Mau Fighters who are their clients,” Mr. Mboya said.
The list of former Mau Mau fighters seeking compensation in the UK have been released to the LSK following a resolution after a boardroom meeting on Saturday at Panafric Hotel in Nairobi. The Law Firms were also to supply LSK with legal papers – within two weeks – of the compensation suits filed in the UK.
LSK convened the meeting to resolve raging disputes between local and UK law firms representing the former freedom fighters in compensation suits in UK Courts.
“We will follow the proceedings of the compensation cases filed in UK Courts and also the professional conduct of the lawyers involved to ensure the victims are adequately compensated.” Mr. Mboya said.
Mr. Mboya also said that Tandem Law supplied the LSK with a claim form for the High Court of Justice Queens Bench Division Case No. 13X02162.
“They also sent us pleadings (legal documents) relating to the said Case No. 13X02162 involving Eloise Mukami Kimathi and Others Versus The Foreign and Commonwealth Office,” Mr. Mboya said.
Tandem Law (UK) is in collaboration with local law firms Miller & Company Advocates and P.K Kamau & Company Advocates.
Mr. Mboya said that British Firm G.T Law Solicitors working with local law firm Rabala & Company Advocates has also furnished LSK with their client list of over 700 ex-Mau Mau fighters.
“We are now awaiting another list from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) which is represented in the UK by the Law Firm of Leigh Day,” Mr. Mboya said.
Mr. Mboya said that KHRC requested for time to contact their lawyers (Leigh Day) in the UK before releasing the list of their clients to the LSK.
He said that The KHRC – through Leigh Day – filed Case Number HQ09X02666 at the English High Court for compensation due to torture and other inhumane acts caused by officials and agents of the British Government during the colonial period in Kenya.