By CYRUS OMBATI
Nairobi, Kenya: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has terminated cases against the bus crew charged over the blast that killed three people and injured more than 80.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution said they did not find any merit in the charges hence the need to terminate the cases.
“DPP Tobiko terminates cases against bus crew charged over city blast,” read a tweet from the office’s twitter handle on Friday.
DPP Keriako Tobiko had Wednesday called for the police file of matatu crew charged over terror attacks on their vehicles to establish the reason and desirability of the charges.
Officials said the DPP studied the police file and concluded to terminate the charges.
The move came as matatu operators on Githurai route, Nairobi went on strike to protest the prosecution of their colleagues over the twin blasts along Thika Road that killed three people.
The operators blocked the highway at Githurai and were demanding the release of the crew. Police arrived at the scene to negotiate with the protestors. They later parked on the roadside after hours of blockade.
“We pay taxes to pay the security agencies to protect us. They are supposed to know how, who and when these bombs are made and arrest the bombers. It is not our work and that is why we are demanding their release,” shouted a matatu tout James Kimani at the scene.
The operators said police are now focusing on the wrong people as if they are the ones who caused the blasts.
Five crew members of the buses attacked in the Sunday twin blasts on Thika Road were charged at the Makadara law courts with failure to prevent murder.
Robert Gakuru, Geoffrey Mwangi, Joshua Wambugu, James Miring’u Munene and Anthony Mutua Masila allegedly failed to prevent the felony, namely murder by failing to screen the passengers while boarding the vehicles.
This exposed the vehicle to be blown off by an unknown passenger resulting to deaths of three people and more than 80 injuries.
The five denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Emily Ominde. They were released on a Sh5 million bond each and two surety of similar amounts. The case will be heard on July 17.
One of the ill-fated buses was ferrying passengers from the Central Business District to Githurai 45 and the other one to Mwiki in Kasarani before the Sunday blasts.
The blasts were caused by Improvised Explosive Devices that had been planted in the two buses
