Court lifts arrest warrant against Nairobi County official John Osike

The warrant was lifted after Osike's lawyer, Mutea Muthuri, informed the court that his client had been unwell and was therefore unable to attend the previous court session.

Muthuri presented medical documents showing that Osike, an official of Nairobi County, had sought treatment at a Nairobi medical facility, where he was examined and found unfit to attend court proceedings.

According to the medical report, he was granted three days off duty and is expected to return for a medical review on July 22.

After considering the medical evidence, the court vacated the warrant of arrest and allowed Osike to continue participating in the proceedings.

The warrant had been issued after Osike failed to appear in court during the last mention of the case.

At the time, the prosecution, led by Nora Otieno, had applied for warrants of arrest against the 5th to the 10th accused persons, arguing that they had failed to honour court summons without providing sufficient reasons for their absence.

While the court issued a warrant against Osike, it directed that summons be served on the other absent accused persons, who were ordered to appear and answer to the charges facing them.

The case arises from the collapse of a building in Nairobi's South C estate, with several individuals facing charges in connection with the incident.

Gombe is charged that, being an employee in the public service at the Nairobi City County Government, he willfully neglected to stop construction of Mamzil Towers on Land Reference number 2O9 /5909 /10 (Nairobi block 68/ l306) despite known noncompliance, a duty which you were dutifully bound to perform. 

The matter will be mentioned again on July 27 for further directions.