KPLC Ordered to Compensate Woolworths with Ksh 487 Million for Nakumatt Downtown Fire Tragedy in 2009
Written by moradio on 25 April 2024
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 25- The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has been ordered to pay at least KSh 487 million for the Nakumatt Downtown fire incident that killed 30 people 15 years ago.
High Court Judge Jacqueline Mong’are ordered KPLC to pay the amount to Woolworths Limited, which owns the burned-down building.
Justice Mong’are made the decision after Woolworths Limited filed a case against Kenya Power and Atul Kumar Shah, the director of the once-giant retail store that burned down.
The company sought general damages for the destroyed property. According to the court, the fire broke out when KPLC was repairing a faulty transformer situated at the Nation Centre following a complaint by Nakumatt.
According to Daily Nation, Nakumatt had complained to KPLC about the disruption of the power supply.
The judge blamed KPLC, which was held to have acted negligently.
“In view of the foregoing and the testimony rendered before this court and in the absence of any other evidence to the contrary, I am persuaded that there is prima facie evidence before this court to suggest that the second defendant (KPLC) is solely to blame for the fire outbreak at the suit property,” the judge ruled.
The judge faulted two technicians from KPLC, who she said gave contradictory evidence on the source of the fire.
