Deported Woman Tells of Torture in Britain
NCADC | 06.05.2004 08:56 | Migration
A middle-aged woman with facial injuries and her six-year-old daughter were yesterday admitted to a city hospital after being deported from Britain.
Ms Bernice Wairimu Kamau had a swollen neck and cheeks, and wore a bandage on either arm following injuries she says were caused by British officials.
source: The Nation (Nairobi), May 5, 2004 Odhiambo Orlale, Nairobi
http://allafrica.com/stories/200405050287.html
Ms Bernice Wairimu Kamau had a swollen neck and cheeks, and wore a bandage on either arm following injuries she says were caused by British officials.
source: The Nation (Nairobi), May 5, 2004 Odhiambo Orlale, Nairobi
http://allafrica.com/stories/200405050287.html
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Passengers on the Kenya Airways plane from London were shocked to see her chained on both feet and hands during the 10-hour flight. She was accompanied by three UK officials.
They expressed outrage and called for more humane treatment of deportees, saying violating the law "does not justify evil treatment".
The plane arrived at 6.30am, but Ms Kamau was not released until 11am because she had to clear with immigration and police who asked her to record a statement.
She was also checked by airport medical staff to verify her claims.
She narrated her 30-day ordeal at the hands of the UK immigration before her deportation alongside daughter Katie.
But Ms Kamau would not say why she was deported and for how long she had stayed in Britain.
She also declined to state her age or Kenyan address, saying only: "I was born in Jamaica, I don't have a home in Kenya; I don't know where I will go from here."
She had travelled without a passport because she did not have it on her when the British immigration officials arrested her. She had no luggage or any other possessions, except the clothes she and her daughter had on.
Ms Kamau vowed to take legal action against the British Government. She appealed to the Government of Kenya for help.
Attempts to interview her UK escorts were unsuccessful as they locked themselves in a room on seeing journalists.
But as the Nation was interviewing the woman at the airport parking lot, Kenya Airports Authority managing director George Muhoho arrived and went straight into the ambulance she was in and talked to her in Kiswahili.
Mr Muhoho: "Why did they deport you; did you resist arrest?"
Ms Kamau: "No, I didn't and I don't know why they handcuffed (sic) my hands and feet."
Muhoho: "How long were you in the UK before they decided to deport you?"
Ms Kamau: "I was there for two years."
As Ms Kamau and her daughter were taken to hospital, Mr Muhoho was overhead asking his colleagues: "Are you taking her to Kenyatta Hospital?"
Assistant Principal Immigration Officer Edward Rintaugu said Ms Kamau was deported for illegal stay.
Police would study her torture claims before taking any action.
NCADC News Service
==========
www.ncadc.org.uk
Passengers on the Kenya Airways plane from London were shocked to see her chained on both feet and hands during the 10-hour flight. She was accompanied by three UK officials.
They expressed outrage and called for more humane treatment of deportees, saying violating the law "does not justify evil treatment".
The plane arrived at 6.30am, but Ms Kamau was not released until 11am because she had to clear with immigration and police who asked her to record a statement.
She was also checked by airport medical staff to verify her claims.
She narrated her 30-day ordeal at the hands of the UK immigration before her deportation alongside daughter Katie.
But Ms Kamau would not say why she was deported and for how long she had stayed in Britain.
She also declined to state her age or Kenyan address, saying only: "I was born in Jamaica, I don't have a home in Kenya; I don't know where I will go from here."
She had travelled without a passport because she did not have it on her when the British immigration officials arrested her. She had no luggage or any other possessions, except the clothes she and her daughter had on.
Ms Kamau vowed to take legal action against the British Government. She appealed to the Government of Kenya for help.
Attempts to interview her UK escorts were unsuccessful as they locked themselves in a room on seeing journalists.
But as the Nation was interviewing the woman at the airport parking lot, Kenya Airports Authority managing director George Muhoho arrived and went straight into the ambulance she was in and talked to her in Kiswahili.
Mr Muhoho: "Why did they deport you; did you resist arrest?"
Ms Kamau: "No, I didn't and I don't know why they handcuffed (sic) my hands and feet."
Muhoho: "How long were you in the UK before they decided to deport you?"
Ms Kamau: "I was there for two years."
As Ms Kamau and her daughter were taken to hospital, Mr Muhoho was overhead asking his colleagues: "Are you taking her to Kenyatta Hospital?"
Assistant Principal Immigration Officer Edward Rintaugu said Ms Kamau was deported for illegal stay.
Police would study her torture claims before taking any action.
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