Officials and Huruma building's owners in court

(Left-Right)Seline Anyango, Chrispus Sifuna, Justus Mwendwa Kathenge, Henry Muiruri Karanja, Samwel Kamau Karanja at a Milimani court to face murder-related charges after the collapse of a building in Huruma, Nairobi.The prosecution asked for more time to complete investigations. (PHOTO: GEORGE NJUNGE/ STANDARD)

Three government officials and the owners of the ill-fated Huruma building were yesterday arraigned in court to face either murder or manslaughter charges.

However, Samuel Karanja and Henry Karanja, two brothers who owned the building, did not plead to the charges.

National Construction Authority director Chrispas Ndinyo, director of planning and compliance at Nairobi County Government Justus Kathenge and Mathare sub-county administrator Seline Ogallo also did not plead to the charges.

The five were remanded at Pangani Police Station till today when the court will rule whether or not to admit them to bail.

Their arrest and appearance in court comes two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery ordered their arrest.

The building had been earmarked for demolition by the county government.

The five were yesterday driven to the Milimani Law Courts under tight security after spending the night at Pangani Police Station.

City residents jammed the court room as a team comprising more than 10 lawyers put up a spirited fight for almost five hours to have the suspects admitted to bail.

Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu had asked the court to grant the prosecution 21 days to allow police complete investigations on why the building was occupied yet it had been condemned as unsuitable for human habitation.

Ondimu told Milimani Principal Magistrate Beatrice Mosiara that the nature of the offences that the five were likely to face was serious and were likely to abscond.

Ondimu said that due to public outcry, the safety of the suspects was not guaranteed and they should remain in custody until they pleaded to charges. More than 20 people have died in the tragedy and over 90 others are unaccounted for.