By Virginia Nyambura
High Court, on Friday, ordered the Kenyan government to compensate 16 Ugandan and Rwanda companies 6.3 billion shillings for the goods they lost during the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Justice Msagha Mbogholi made the ruling, which is the single largest award of compensation made so far in the post-election violence cases heard.
The case, filed by Kampala City Traders Association (Katraco) Uganda, Intraspeed Logistics and Mugenga Holdings, will also benefit drivers who were ferrying goods from Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo
The companies alleged that 22 of their trucks were wrecked during the political chaos.
Bidco Uganda, Bunyonyi Safaris, Dooba Enterprises, KPI Limited, Willex Uganda, SEBCO Uganda, Seven Hills Impex, Uganda Agricultural Tools, Board City, and businessman Tom Mgenga, who is the owner of Mugenga Holdings, also laid claim for each truck that was wrecked.
They listed the police commissioner who is now inspector-general and the attorney-general as the respondents.
The firms had earlier requested for a total of USD47, 557,081, which was equivalent to 3,804,566,480 shillings when they filed their suit in March 2010.
The 6.3 billion shillings figure was agreed on after the initial claim was adjusted due to inflation.
Judge Mbogholi, in his ruling, said the firms and drivers had proven to the court that they lost their trucks and commodities as a result of arson and theft during the political chaos.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that they lost some business as a result. It is now almost 10 years from the time the cause of action arose,” said the judge adding that it was hard to know how long those vehicles would have remained on the road doing the same business for the benefit of the plaintiffs.