A Milimani Court will this afternoon rule on an inquest involving the death of 29 people at Nakumatt Downtown supermarket 13 years ago.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi is expected to render the long awaited decision on what triggered the fire that caused the deaths, serious injuries and damage of multi-million property at the supermarket on January 28, 2009.

The decision was expected to be delivered yesterday but the court adjourned to today.

Following the fire, a senior detective Emmanuel Ngetich, who is currently attached to DCI headquarters, recommended a public inquest in an open court to find out who was responsible for the fire.

In today’s ruling, the magistrate is expected to make various finds on the cause of the fire and recommend who should held responsible for the incident. 

The magistrate is also expected decide whether to find Nakumatt Limited responsible for negligence leading to the deaths and injuries.

During the inquest 11 witnesses, including Nakumatt Downtown director Atul Maganial Shah, testified giving an account on what happened on the material day.

In his testimony, Shah said employees had informed him of the numerous power fluctuations moments before the fire started at around 2:30pm.

He told the inquiry that he was in Mombasa on official duties when received a call from the branch manager informing him of the fire.

 Danson Kimathi, a senior police officer from the electrical engineering department, said the fire may have originated from fuel vapours or gas coming in contact with a hot exhaust pipe of a generator, or sparks emanating from contacts during a changeover from direct current to alternating current.