Brothers face manslaughter charges over collapsed building

Ongoing rescue operations on May 2, 2016 at the site of a building that collapsed in Huruma estate, Nairobi. Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

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

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

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.”