Owner of Ntulele killer bus arraigned in court

By Fred Makana

Narok, Kenya: The owner of the ‘City to City’ bus that claimed 41 people at Ntulele along Narok –Nairobi highway was Monday arraigned in court to answer charges of allowing a defective bus to operate.

Mohamed Abdinasir Shiekh who appeared before Nairobi Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndwiga was further accused of failing to keep records of the drivers of the bus company.

Shiekh however denied the charges and the magistrate ordered that he be remanded at the Muthaiga Police Station to allow the prosecution to prepare for fresh charges before a Narok court.

Attempts by Shiekh’s lawyer Cliff Ombeta to secure bail for his client became futile after the prosecution opposed his release on grounds that the driver of the ill-fated bus has not been identified.

The alleged owner who was arrested on Sunday following the tragic bus accident last week and the police have impounded three buses belonging to the company. Four drivers of the company were also charged for driving defective vehicles contrary to section 55 (1) of the Traffic Act.

Joseph Isite Arukusia, John Kithema Mutuva, Justus Mutinda and Patrick Kilonzo Mwaniki all denied the charges and were each granted cash bail of Sh50,000. The case will be heard on October 3.

The arrest and eventual arraignment in court of the bus owner came after Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau said the company will be responsible for the accident at Ntulele.

The Cabinet Secretary has also stated that the government is contemplating to ban night travel so as to curb road accidents.