Two face murder charges in collapsed building case

By Maureen Odiwuor

Two people have been charged with seven counts of manslaughter following the collapse of a building in Kisumu County.

Businessman Vinod Kumar and Kisumu Municipal Council officials Samwel Otieno were arraigned before the Kisumu Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari where they pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts even as the State prepares to add more charges against them.

They were arrested and taken to court barely two weeks after a five-storey building that was under construction collapsed, killing seven people and injuring 30 others.

Prosecutor John Kanda told the court investigation was still ongoing.

“Those affected are still recording statements with the investigating officer,” he said.

Cooperated with police

However, the court released the accused persons on Sh1 million cash bail or a Sh2 million bond each with one similar surety.

The magistrate also ordered them to report to the investigating officer once a week and the prosecution to supply them with copies of witness statements, investigative diary and all other documents it is to rely on in the case.

This was after the defence lawyer Ngala Awino applied to the court to release his clients on cash bail, saying they have been cooperative with the police.