The Kenyan police have arrested the owner of the Embakasi gas plant which exploded and killed six people and left about 300 people seriously injured last Thursday.
According to a report by the Star, the owner, Derrick Kimathi, and three officials of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have been detained at Capitol Hill Police Station, pending a court ruling on Wednesday.
The report mentioned the three NEMA officials as Joseph Makau, David Ong’are and Marrian Kioko.
The court is going to rule on whether the three would be detained for 21 days pending the conclusion of the probe into the matter.
Counsel for the accused had vehemently opposed their detention, saying the fundamental rights of their clients were being violated.
They argued that the accused persons were innocent until they were proven guilty and that the four might end up not being charged after the investigations.
The four were, on Tuesday, arraigned before Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego with the state seeking detention orders pending completion of investigations.
The 21 days sought is set to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to finish investigations on cases of murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, negligent act causing harm and abuse of office.
According to Star, Isaac Tenei, who is the investigator, told the court that there is fear of the respondents interfering with witnesses and them being a flight risk.
The prosecution counsel argued that the lives of the four might be in danger considering the loss of lives, properties and injured victims from the Embakasi fire.
They also noted that the matter is one of public interest and it needs to be expedited
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
