Sinai fire victims push for Sh25b out-of-court deal

Attorney General Githu Muigai.

Nairobi, Kenya: Sinai fire victims seeking Sh25 billion compensation from the Government have now written a proposal to the Attorney General asking for settlement of the matter outside the court.

Through their lawyer Lydia Kwamboka, the victims told the court Wednesday that the proposal seeks to give them leeway to negotiate the amount they should be compensated.

The victims' petition was filed by Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, the then Makadara MP. He wants the court to compel the State to award damages to the victims of the September 2011 fire tragedy which left many with permanent scars.

In the petition, Mr Sonko claimed the fire destroyed the livelihoods of residents in Nairobi's Fuata Nyayo, Mariguini, Mukuru Kaiyaba, Kisii village, Masai village, Shimo la Tewa village, Hazina village, Lunga lunga village, Donholm village and Sinai village.

According to him, it destroyed small businesses, schools, health centres, social lifestyle, culture and artefacts and the economic life of the residents.

He says the fire outbreak was caused by collective negligence of the respondents jointly and severally.

He is now accusing the then Nairobi City Council of failing to construct roads, supply water and infrastructure, making the area inaccessible.

Judge Isaac Lenaola Wednesday ordered parties to complete their negotiations outside the court before returning to court on July 16.

He said the case could not continue because the parties were still negotiating.

More than 100 people died in the slum fire on September 12, 2011, following an oil spill from the Kenya Pipeline Corporation.

On October 23, last year, the survivors became anxious over delayed hearing of their compensation case despite filing all the necessary documents.

The parties are yet to agree on the compensation amount.