Solai killer dam owners summoned to Parliament

Deputy chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Sophia Abdi speaks to journalists on June 18, 2018 after touring the Solai tragedy site. The committee has summoned owners of the killer Solai dam. PHOTO | AYUB MUIYURO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The committee held a meeting with the county officials, owners of the farm and representatives of victims of the tragedy.
  • This comes more than a month after a dam in the farm burst its banks, leaving 47 dead and dozens injured besides a trail of destruction.
  • Some of the owners of the farm who attended the meeting said documents were all in Nairobi.

The owners of Patel Dam that caused the death of 47 people last month are set to appear before the National Assembly Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to answer questions about it.

The killer dam also left a trail of destruction.

The committee members led by deputy chairperson Sophia Abdi visited the farm on Monday and summoned the owners of the dam after the team failed to get information that they needed as they investigate the matter.

The Senate is also investigating the matter.

MEETING

The committee held a meeting with the county officials, owners of the farm and representatives of victims of the tragedy but came out a disappointed lot after the management of the Patel Dam denied them access to crucial documents.

“Unfortunately, when we went to the owners of Solai who have worked with the residents for years, they could not give us any relevant information. They did not have any documentation and we are now summoning them for a meeting at Parliament,” said Abdi.

This comes more than a month after a dam in the farm burst its banks, leaving 47 dead and dozens injured besides a trail of destruction.

DOCUMENTS IN NAIROBI

Some of the owners of the farm who attended the meeting said documents were all in Nairobi where the company headquarters is based.

“It is not right to claim they do not have any documentation with them; all documents should be at the farm to show they are licensed to do the work,” noted Ms Abdi.

Ms Abdi revealed that the committee members were shocked that the farm did not have any records pertaining to the registration and licensing of the seven dams at the farm.

The committee, however, did not disclose the date when the dam owners are required to appear before it.

It also sought to find out initiatives being undertaken to assist the victims as they resettle and what could be done to avert such disasters in future.