Trial ordered over 13 Kiambu deaths

By Evelyn Kwamboka

A man is to face full trial in connection with the death of 13 people.

Stephen Kimani Kamau, whose building collapsed and killed the 13 in Kiambu town, is to stand trial after the High Court dismissed his efforts to stop the criminal proceedings.

Justice Fred Ochieng’ yesterday said he couldn’t direct AG Amos Wako to terminate the proceedings on grounds somebody else was criminally responsible for the deaths.

The judge also said the Ministry of Public Works and the Kenya Bureau of Standards have no legal authority to exonerate Kamau or anybody else from criminal liability.

Kamau was the proprietor of the property in which a building under construction collapsed on October 19 last year, killing 13 people and injuring others. He was charged with 13 counts of manslaughter before the Chief magistrate’s Court in Kiambu.

He was charged alongside George Kiarie, Edward Kinyanjui, Moses Kiragu and Premji Patel. He then moved to the High Court to stop the criminal charges against him.

In the case dismissed by Justice Ochieng’, Kamau sought a declaration that the AG’s decision to charge him amounted to violation of his constitutional rights.