By Alice Muthengi BBC, Nairobi

The demonstrators claimed they were tortured by security officers

The demonstrators - mainly former political prisoners - say they were tortured by security and police officers in Nairobi's Nyayo House torture chambers on suspicion that they were involved in anti-government activities.

The survivors sang and chanted slogans as they awaited clearance to hold a procession before filing their cases in court.

The situation threatened to get out of hand as the demonstrators exchanged bitter words with armed policemen.

But the stand-off did not last long - after consultations the authorities finally gave in and allowed the demonstrators to march to the high court.

Sad evidence

At the high court lawyer Thiong'o Ng'ang'a handed over to the survivors 10 files of the cases filed in court.

"Those files contain sad evidence of the brutality that the police and security agents committed on the Kenyan people," said Mr Ng'ang'a, adding that there are more than 10,000 cases for which compensation will be sought.

The Nyayo House torture chambers are now open to the public

One of the survivors, former MP Njeru Kathangu said the torture victims wanted more than compensation from the government.

"We want the government to recognise that people were tortured... compensation is a small part of that process... we want medical attention, welfare for the children, wives and husbands," said Mr Kathangu.

After coming to power in last December's general elections, President Mwai Kibaki's government opened the Nyayo House torture chambers to the public.

His ruling Narc party also promised to compensate the torture victims but some human rights activists have accused the government of dragging its feet.