Court Awards KSh 1.5 Million to Meru Man Who Slept At Police Station With Wife's Coffin
Charles Mwenda had sued the state at the High Court in Meru in which he also accused Meru county Covid-19 surveillance team of infringing on his rights and freedom. In his ruling on Wednesday, June 30, Judge Edward Muriithi directed the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to bear the cost.
Deborah Chelangat 
At the onset of Covid-19 early last year together with its stringent measures, Charles Mwenda had travelled with his family and friends from Malindi to bury his wife in Meru. The grieving family members and friends were stopped at a police roadblock near Meru and asked to alight from the bus. The police asked Mwenda to board their vehicle and with the coffin to Kianjai Police Station where he spent the night.
Through her lawyers Vivian Wambulwa, Mwenda argued that he was mistreated by the team and police officers despite having complied with the COVID-19 regulations. In his affidavit, Mwenda detailed how he and 31 mourners were mistreated by the cops after a long ride from Malindi in Kilifi county on May 28, 2020. The widower said he had sought permission from relevant authorities that allowed him and the 31 mourners to travel for the burial of his wife Faith Mwenda who had succumbed to cancer on May 24, 2020. He told the court that he had been treated with total indignity by transporting him and the coffin before dumping him in the middle of the night by the roadside while it was raining without care about his security and well-being.
He said upon reaching Keeria market in Meru county, they were stopped by police and the 31 mourners were asked to return to Malindi or else they would be forced into quarantine at their own cost. The police then ordered him to get into their vehicle with the casket and he was driven to Kianjai Police Station where he was forced to spend the night. The rains pounded the area on that day leaving him and the coffin soaked. Enjoined in the case were the Law Society of Kenya, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights.
Notably, Kenyans on social media raised over KSh 700,000 for the man to take care of his young family.
