Nine top managers from a showcase restaurant and others from the country's leading brewery were last night under arrest.
They were seized by police investigating the deaths of three youths at the Smirnoff Experience party, held at the Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi, last December.
The nine are likely to be charged with criminal negligence, said a senior police officer, following the deaths which the party organisers said happened when a section of the 16,000 strong crowd rushed through one of the Carnivore entrances.
First to be arrested yesterday morning were Carnivore chairman Martin Dunford, the restaurant's general manager Gerishon Misumi, the operations manager Leonard Mudachi and security manager Reuben Lumwaji.
As they were taken off to Kilimani Police Station, another CID team went to Kenya Breweries and arrested United Distillers and Vintners (K) managing director Antony Joyce, East Africa Breweries Ltd marketing manager Jane Mwai, security manager Esther Njombo, external affairs manager Norah Odwesso and brand manager Caroline Wainaina.
Lawyers for the nine visited the CID headquarters and Kilimani Police Station to consult with their clients.
The investigation into the stampede that resulted in the deaths of Ms Mary Anne Nyokabi, 22, Mr Mark Ndonye, 22, and Mr Geoffrey Omenda Otieno, 19, on December 4 were being led by deputy CID chief Richard Okore.
Mr Dunford and Mr Joyce are among the top captains of industry in Kenya, heading businesses which are part of respected global networks.
The Sh1.2 billion UDV – jointly owned by Guinness United Distillers and Vinters Ltd and EABL – is the leading alcoholic spirits maker in Kenya, producing Smirnoff Vodka, Gilbey's gin, Bond 7 and Kenya Cane among other brands as well as distributing imported liquors from the global Diageo Group.
Besides the flagship Carnivore restaurant, it also owns the Tamarind village and Tamarind Dhow in Mombasa as well as Tamambo restaurant and has outlets in South Africa and Australia.
The Carnivore has previously been selected as one of the fifty best places to eat in the world by London-based Restaurant Magazine.
Yesterday's arrests came months after a heated public debate over the carnivore incident, which focused attention on Kenya's youth entertainment scene and its controversial culture of African-American fashion and hi-hop music.
Staff at Mater Hospital, where the three stampede casualties were taken by the disco organisers, said they were all dead on arrival, although Carnivore management said they had died while being treated.
An indication of how seriously police were taking the matter came last month when CID head Joseph Kamau warned that both Carnivore and EABL management could face charges of criminal negligence.
Several other party-goers were injured following a midnight stampede caused by what management later said was a scuffle by impatient patrons.
Around 16,000 people attended what was dubbed the party of the year; the biggest crowd in the restaurant's 24-year existence.
An initial press release by the Carnivore said the crush had taken place outside the entrance to the restaurant gardens, where the Smirnoff Experience was taking place.
A statement from UDV blamed the stampede on, "aggressive individuals that were trying to push their way into their venue, thereby causing an undue rush at the entrance of the venue."
UDV also said they had asked for 37 regular police officers, 24 traffic officers and that they had also hired 70 security guards and three ambulances with paramedics.
Other witnesses said the stampede took place as fireworks were let off during the entry of US-based DJ Kutz.
Police at the Carnivore said that the chaos was caused by some drunken youths already inside the Carnivore grounds. They arrested 22 people at the party and charged them with being drunk and disorderly.
