Ex-driver sues Murang’a Governor Kang’ata for allegedly naming him as Ethiopian Airlines crash victim

A former driver of Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has sued both the governor and the Senate for allegedly listing him as a victim of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash without his consent.

Through lawyer Suiyanka Lempaa, David Mburu Karanja claims that Kang’ata unlawfully included his name in a Senate petition concerning the lack of support for families of victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302.

Lempaa told the court that Karanja is seeking an order compelling Kang’ata to provide information requested in a letter dated February 5, 2025, and referenced Gen/L/3/25/086, pending the hearing and determination of the petition.

"Pending the hearing and determination of the Application, the Court be pleased to issue a conservatory order restraining the Respondents by themselves, their employees, servants, agents, successors, assignees or person acting or claiming through or under them from relying upon, referencing, or making use of the Petitioner's name emanating from the impugned Senate Petition dated June 19, 2019 or any related proceedings there from without engaging him and/or his authorised agents," Karanja states in court documents.

Produce all records

He is also asking the court to direct the respondents to produce all records of the Senate petition dated June 19, 2019, including the list of petitioners, for inspection and verification.

In his filings, Karanja recalls that on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing all 157 people on board.

"On June 19, 2019, a petition concerning the lack of support to families of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 air crash was received by the Senate, which unlawfully and falsely included Karanja as one of the petitioners without his knowledge. Furthermore, he had no family relations with any of the victims of the crash," he argued.

He maintains that the petition was submitted and deliberated on by a Senate Standing Committee without his knowledge, participation, or consent—an omission he says violated his right to a fair hearing and exposed him to reputational harm.

Karanja further claims that on November 11, 2024, the Senate received a letter questioning how his name and those of seven other former employees of Kang’ata appeared in the petition.

He argues that the Senate’s response to this inquiry only deepened the misrepresentation, as it suggested that petitioners, including himself, had participated in its deliberations.

Despite writing to various institutions, including the Commission on Administrative Justice, Karanja says the responses he has received have been “inadequate, evasive and a culmination of general denials.”

"The 1st Respondent's written response to the Commission on Administrative Justice purports to distance himself from any personal relationship with the petitioners, including the Petitioner, which directly contradicts his own recorded statements in the Senate report, where he acknowledges knowing the petitioners personally and having advised them to file the petition. This discrepancy raises serious concerns of misrepresentation and abuse of office and parliamentary privileges that warrant urgent judicial scrutiny," Karanja states.

He insists that it is in the interest of justice and the public good for his notice of motion and petition to be heard and determined urgently.

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• Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata
• Flight ET 302
• Suiyanka Lempaa
• David Mburu Karanja
• Ex-driver sues Murang’a Governor Kang’ata for allegedly naming him as Ethiopian Airlines crash victim
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