Former Driver Files Lawsuit Against Murang’a Governor Kang’ata Over Ethiopian Airlines Crash Claim
Quote from Lawyer on August 21, 2025, 9:09 amA former driver has initiated legal action against Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, alleging that the governor wrongfully included his name in a Senate petition related to the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. David Mburu Karanja, through his lawyer Suiyanka Lempaa, claims that Kang’ata’s actions caused him significant distress and reputational harm by falsely listing him as a victim of the tragic incident that claimed 157 lives. The lawsuit, filed in Nairobi, seeks to compel Kang’ata to provide information requested in a letter dated February 5, 2025, and to address the damages caused by the alleged misrepresentation.
The controversy stems from a petition presented during Kang’ata’s tenure as a senator, which included the names of eight individuals, some of whom were reportedly employees in his Senate office. Among them was Karanja, who asserts he was neither a victim nor a relative of anyone involved in the crash. The petition, initially handled by the Senate’s National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations Committee before being transferred to the Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights Committee, where Kang’ata was a member, sought compensation for families affected by the crash. Questions have arisen about the legitimacy of the petition, including why it took 853 days to produce a report with no recommendations and why public funds were used for a delegation, including Kang’ata, to travel to Seattle.
The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, which occurred on March 10, 2019, shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, involved a Boeing 737 Max jet bound for Nairobi. The plane lost control and crashed in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, killing all passengers and crew, including 36 Kenyans. The disaster led to a global grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft and numerous lawsuits against Boeing, with Kang’ata representing some victims’ families in a consortium with U.S.-based lawyers. He has claimed that the families he represented received substantial compensation, with one family reportedly securing up to 1 billion Kenyan shillings. However, the inclusion of non-victims in the Senate petition has raised concerns about the integrity of the compensation process.
Kang’ata has faced scrutiny over his involvement in the compensation claims. A May 2025 investigative report suggested that some individuals listed in the petition were not legitimate victims or their kin, prompting Kang’ata to deny any wrongdoing. He stated that all genuine victims he represented in the U.S. were compensated and that no funds were derived from the controversial petition. The governor has also refuted allegations of fraud linked to the crash compensation, emphasizing that his legal work with U.S. attorneys was above board and that payments were made only after Boeing’s settlements.
Karanja’s lawsuit highlights broader issues surrounding the aftermath of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. Boeing has settled over 90 percent of civil lawsuits related to the 737 Max crashes, including a high-profile settlement with Paul Njoroge, a Kenyan-Canadian who lost his wife, three children, and mother-in-law in the tragedy. That settlement, announced in July 2025, avoided a jury trial in the U.S. and underscored the emotional and financial toll on victims’ families. Meanwhile, Kang’ata’s legal efforts have included representing other families, such as that of Henry Macharia Wairia, who sued the Kenyan government in 2019 for failing to issue a death certificate for his wife, a crash victim.
The case against Kang’ata is ongoing, with Karanja seeking not only the requested information but also accountability for the alleged misuse of his name. The lawsuit raises questions about transparency in the handling of crash-related petitions and the ethical responsibilities of public officials in such sensitive matters. As the court proceedings unfold, they are likely to shed further light on the complexities of seeking justice and compensation in the wake of one of aviation’s most devastating incidents.
A former driver has initiated legal action against Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, alleging that the governor wrongfully included his name in a Senate petition related to the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. David Mburu Karanja, through his lawyer Suiyanka Lempaa, claims that Kang’ata’s actions caused him significant distress and reputational harm by falsely listing him as a victim of the tragic incident that claimed 157 lives. The lawsuit, filed in Nairobi, seeks to compel Kang’ata to provide information requested in a letter dated February 5, 2025, and to address the damages caused by the alleged misrepresentation.
The controversy stems from a petition presented during Kang’ata’s tenure as a senator, which included the names of eight individuals, some of whom were reportedly employees in his Senate office. Among them was Karanja, who asserts he was neither a victim nor a relative of anyone involved in the crash. The petition, initially handled by the Senate’s National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations Committee before being transferred to the Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights Committee, where Kang’ata was a member, sought compensation for families affected by the crash. Questions have arisen about the legitimacy of the petition, including why it took 853 days to produce a report with no recommendations and why public funds were used for a delegation, including Kang’ata, to travel to Seattle.
The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, which occurred on March 10, 2019, shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, involved a Boeing 737 Max jet bound for Nairobi. The plane lost control and crashed in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, killing all passengers and crew, including 36 Kenyans. The disaster led to a global grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft and numerous lawsuits against Boeing, with Kang’ata representing some victims’ families in a consortium with U.S.-based lawyers. He has claimed that the families he represented received substantial compensation, with one family reportedly securing up to 1 billion Kenyan shillings. However, the inclusion of non-victims in the Senate petition has raised concerns about the integrity of the compensation process.
Kang’ata has faced scrutiny over his involvement in the compensation claims. A May 2025 investigative report suggested that some individuals listed in the petition were not legitimate victims or their kin, prompting Kang’ata to deny any wrongdoing. He stated that all genuine victims he represented in the U.S. were compensated and that no funds were derived from the controversial petition. The governor has also refuted allegations of fraud linked to the crash compensation, emphasizing that his legal work with U.S. attorneys was above board and that payments were made only after Boeing’s settlements.
Karanja’s lawsuit highlights broader issues surrounding the aftermath of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. Boeing has settled over 90 percent of civil lawsuits related to the 737 Max crashes, including a high-profile settlement with Paul Njoroge, a Kenyan-Canadian who lost his wife, three children, and mother-in-law in the tragedy. That settlement, announced in July 2025, avoided a jury trial in the U.S. and underscored the emotional and financial toll on victims’ families. Meanwhile, Kang’ata’s legal efforts have included representing other families, such as that of Henry Macharia Wairia, who sued the Kenyan government in 2019 for failing to issue a death certificate for his wife, a crash victim.
The case against Kang’ata is ongoing, with Karanja seeking not only the requested information but also accountability for the alleged misuse of his name. The lawsuit raises questions about transparency in the handling of crash-related petitions and the ethical responsibilities of public officials in such sensitive matters. As the court proceedings unfold, they are likely to shed further light on the complexities of seeking justice and compensation in the wake of one of aviation’s most devastating incidents.