The recent collapse of a seven-storey building in Huruma has elicited mixed reactions from both the public and police with the public pressing for the arrest of the house owner.
Though the public want the owner charged with murder, police are yet to know which charges the culprits will face forcing them to apply for 21 days to detain five suspects arrested over the collapsed building.
The five are two brothers Samuel Kamau Karanja and Henry Karanja together with Chrispus Sifuna, Justus Mwendwa and Seline Anyango from the National Construction Authority and Nairobi County.
State Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu told the court that investigations ought to be completed in order to decide whether to prefer murder or manslaughter charges. He urged the court to remand the suspects at an unknown police station for their safety due to anger from members of the public.
“Police are yet to know whether this is murder or manslaughter and that is why they want additional time for investigation,” he said
The court heard that preliminary investigations have revealed that the building which left 23 people dead was illegally constructed and occupied as it stands in riparian.
The time prayed for, the State added will determine whether the suspects have criminal culpability. But the suspects through their advocates opposed the application arguing that bail is a constitutional right and have no intention of absconding court proceedings.