Naivasha principal magistrate Joseph Karanja has stepped down from the Solai dam case where 48 suspects face several charges including manslaughter.
The magistrate excused himself from the case without giving any reason. The case will now be heard by chief magistrate Kennedy Bidali.
In the case, the suspects including Perry Manusukh the owner of the dam are charged with 48 counts of manslaughter and failing to prepare an environmental impact assessment report.
The other eight suspects are Vinoj Jaya Kumar, Luka Kipyegen, Johnson Njuguna, Winnie Muthoni, Jacinta Were, Tomkin Odo Odhiambo, Willie Omondi and Lynette Cheruiyot.
Manusukuh and Joshua Njuguna who is the director of water in Nakuru had arrived in the count seeking permission to travel out of the country.
The magistrate, however, stepped aside forcing the two petitions to be heard by Bidali who will give a ruling on Monday and the way forward.
The two want to travel to India and China respectively and the court was set to determine their petition today.
The move comes barely two months after the DPP sought to have the high profile case transferred from Naivasha to Nairobi due to an alleged interference of witnesses.
In the petition, the DPP accused some of the suspects of interfering with the scene of the crime.
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