Former CMC director charged with killing guard in city accident

The spot where Charles Wachira Mwangi of chancery security lost his life after CMC Motors Group Ltd director Joel Kibe allegedly rammed into a security barrier where charles was guarding in Runda along UN Avenue near Whispers in Gigiri area within Nairobi County on February 2, 2016. [Photo:DAVID GICHURU/Standard]

City billionaire Joel Kamau Kibe was yesterday charged with crashing a security guard to death in Nairobi.

The former Cooper Motors Corporation (CMC) director, who allegedly suffered injuries during the accident in which Charles Wachira Mwangi was killed, appeared in court a day after his lawyer Cliff Ombeta said he could not answer to the charges because he had fractured his ribs.

There was drama in court as the billionaire used his blue round-necked sweater to cover his face from media cameras and at one time clutched the coattail of a court official to avoid being photographed.

Kibe, who also owns Mobicom, denied causing death, injury and driving while drunk when he appeared before city magistrate Benson Nzakyo.

He was released on a cash bail of Sh100,000 or bond of Sh300,000 bond and a similar surety.

The court heard the accused committed the offence on February 2, 2016, along UN Avenue near Whispers in Gigiri within Nairobi County.

Kibe also faced a second count of careless driving.

He was accused that on similar dates and place, he injured Daniel Ochieng Omolo while driving a Range Rover under the influence of alcohol.

The prosecution had opposed Kibe's application to be released on bail until today, arguing the police needed time to complete investigations.

The investigating officer, Sammy Kiprotich, said investigations were not complete because the autopsy on the body had not been conducted.

He also stated Omollo's P3 form had not been filled to establish the degree of injuries he suffered, adding that the scenes of crime personnel had not processed photographs taken on that day.

Kibe is facing serious charges which, if convicted, could earn him a jail term of 10 years.

Kibe allegedly lost control of the car as approached a barrier in Gigiri and knocked a sentry box where security guard was. He was injured and died later.

And as Kibe drove back home yesterday, two kilometres from the majestic residences of Runda and Gigiri estates, Erick Mutweri sat alone in an single room which was bare, save for a green kerosene stove, grieving his roommate Wachira.

The 30-year-old Wachira lived in the structure at Githongoro slum in Gigiri until Tuesday when he met his death while on duty at a barrier ostensibly to prevent undesirable elements from accessing Runda when he was hit by a vehicle.

One of his colleagues, Robert Ndiwa, who was on duty that day, said he saw a speeding white Range Rover approach at around 3am and before he could open the barrier, it crashed right into it.

Ndiwa said he watched as the car tumbled over the sentry box that Wachira was in, and it fell on impact.

"It was scary. We ran to save him, but from where I was standing, I knew he had been seriously injured," he said.

He recalled how Wachira was taken to Kiambu hospital by a good Samaritan, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mutwiri described Wachira as a man who had great dreams, saying he always talked of the houses he wanted to build and his desire to go back to school and get better education.