The owner of the building that collapsed in Kisii town killing eight people last Thursday has been arrested.
Kisii DCI Charles Mwangi said Jeremiah Matoke was arrested yesterday when he surrendered to the Kisii police station
“We have recorded his statement and he will be taken to court today,” Mwangi said.
Matoke may face murder and other charges relating to violating of the National Construction Authority regulations.
Matoke went underground immediately the 10-storey building collapsed and security chiefs urged him to surrender.
On Monday, he failed to turn up for questioning and sent his lawyer, who told detectives that his client was ailing.
The developer had ignored suspension orders from the NCA, stopping construction of the house after he exceeded the approved five floors.
Transport CS James Macharia blamed the Kisii county government and police for failing to enforce the orders.
The CS questioned the capacity of counties to approve and supervise buildings.
He told the parliamentary committee on Transport that the house crumbled due to a weak mix of concrete, quality and loading the building.
But Kisii Governor James Ongwae said the county government is not to blame.
“This culture of passing the buck must stop. This is why during the rescue and recovery efforts, I did not apportion blame to anyone, including the national government," he said.
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