Kenyan Parliament during a past session. MPs want an American brought
back to Nairobi to face charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
photo | FILE
By Caroline Wafula The Citizen Correspondent
Posted Saturday, October 12 2013 at 11:29
Posted Saturday, October 12 2013 at 11:29
In Summary
They were visibly angry that the man who was an
employee of the American embassy in Nairobi managed to flee the country
immediately after the accident.
Nairobi. An American citizen who caused an accident that left one person dead is wanted to face charges in Kenya.
Kenyan MPs have demanded that the man be brought back to the country to face charges of dangerous driving.
They were visibly angry that the man who was an
employee of the American embassy in Nairobi managed to flee the country
immediately after the accident.
It is believed that the embassy aided Mr James
Walde, who was its technical and administrative staff, to leave the
country with his family a day after the accident.
A police report says the American was guilty of
dangerous driving that resulted in the death of Mr Alhaji Hassan
Lukindo, when Mr Walde’s SUV rammed into the bus he was travelling in.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale,
responding to queries on the accident, said police records indicated
that Mr Walde was speeding on the wrong lane and collided head on with
the bus.
The matter was brought before parliament three weeks ago by Mr Nicholas Gumbo, an opposition MP, who demanded action.
Mr Walde recorded a statement with the police
after the accident, but he could not be detained because he enjoyed
diplomatic immunity.
Immigration records indicate that Mr Walde flew
out of the country the night after the accident, via Entebbe, Uganda.
According to Mr Duale, the ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote to the US
Embassy in Nairobi, which confirmed that the wanted man was their staff
and that he had in deed left the country.
Mr Duale said it was possible the employee was assisted to sneak out of the country before law enforcers caught up with him.
“The US is a friendly country, but the Embassy is liable in this case and there is an omission on their part,” he said.
He said the government would engage every means
possible to have the man brought back to the country, “even if it means
using the Interpol”.
“We must be very stringent and we should not allow diplomats to
behave any differently from other people in the receiving countries,”
said the Majority Leader.
The ministry has officially requested the embassy
to have Mr Walde extradited to face charges of dangerous driving in line
with Kenyan laws.
The Majority Leader said the government would
continue to engage with the US government through diplomatic channels to
ensure justice was done to Mr Lukindo’s family.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
