Manslaughter charge for flat owners to be charged

Nairobi. The two brothers who own the building that collapsed in Huruma, Nairobi, will face manslaughter charges once the death toll has been established, police records have revealed.

The brothers, Mr Samuel Kamau Karanja and Mr Henry Mururi Karanja, were on Monday grilled for the second time by the police.

On Tuesday, the police will forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further direction.

Starehe OCPD Seroney Kiberenge on Monday said police had written to Mr Keriako Tobiko’s office for advice regarding the offences the suspects are to face.

However, police records showed that the two would be charged with manslaughter as soon as the death toll is established.

The two brothers took over the administration of their father’s estate, including the building that collapsed, after he died in 1997.

Records indicate that the property initially belonged to the suspects’ father, Mr Joseph Karanja Guchu, who hailed from Ithanga in Murang’a.

A succession cause was filed in the High Court and on November 26, 1997, Principal Deputy Registrar Charles Kariuki Njai published a notice in the Kenya Gazette that both sons would be granted letters of administration within a period of 30 days.

The Kenya Gazette notice number 65 of December 11, 1997 read: “The court will proceed to issue the same unless cause be shown to the contrary and appearance in this respect entered within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the Kenya Gazette.”

The number of people who died in a city building that collapsed has risen to 22 as 135 others were rescued from the rubble of the six-storey residential block. Rescue efforts have been slow, hampered by the fact that the collapsed building in Huruma is adjacent to a river that is blocking access to the site.

Rescue workers have complained that they are unable to move equipment onto some parts of the scene to help with heavy lifting.

At about 1pm, they brought a police sniffer dog to the site to help find the bodies.

In the meantime, residents whose houses are adjacent to the collapsed building have been urged to evacuate since those too are in danger of caving in.

Some residents have, however, defied the order to evacuate, saying they have nowhere else to go.

Ngei Ward Administrator Allan Isaboke said officials may resort to using police to move people because the situation “is a matter of life and death.”

A total of 65 were still unaccounted for, with reports indicating that more people were still trapped under the wreckage of the building.

The building collapsed on Friday night. At least 71 survivors were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.

According to the hospital’s acting CEO, Dr Kennedy Koech, 58 people who had minor injuries were treated and discharged while 12 others who suffered fractures in the arms and legs were still being treated.

“One who suffered multiple injuries died on Saturday evening but we expect that the ones who are still admitted will undergo further treatment before being discharged,” said Dr Koech.

The CEO also said that none of the admitted patients was in critical condition and that all had been stabilised.

“We are now planning the next course of treatment for the remaining patients especially for those with fractured limbs. But they are out of danger,” added Dr Koech.

As late as Sunday afternoon, more survivors were still trickling into the referral hospital.

According to Public Service Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, most of the survivors were young people and mothers, who were now out in the cold. (NMG)