Mutula Kilonzo criticises State over Solai dam tragedy
Senate ad hoc committee chairperson Mutula Kilonzo Jr (centre) leads proceedings into the Solai dam tragedy, at Parliament on July 17, 2018. He has said their recommendations have not been adopted. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The report observed that the two agencies re protecting Mr Mansukh despite having no license to construct the dams.
- The committee suggested that Mr Mansukh should cede part of the 3,250-acre farmland for use in resettling the affected families.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr has expressed displeasure over lack of action on the Senate report concerning the Solai dam disaster.
Mr Kilonzo questioned why recommendations made after they investigated the incident have not be taken up. He was the committee chairman.
"I am extremely disappointed that the report was not followed up after it was made public. The restoration order has also been ignored," he said.
The May 9, 2017 tragedy that caused the deaths of 48 people and destruction of property occurred after a dam in Solai, Nakuru County, burst.
The report tabled in the House on July 27 indicted Mr Perry Mansukh, the dam owner, National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) and Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA) officials.
RESETTLEMENT
The senators established that the dam had been built 1,694 meters above sea level, with a 30-meter long mud wall holding 300 million litres of water with no outlet.
The report noted that the two agencies had allegedly "protected" Mr Mansukh despite having no license to construct the dams.
In their recommendations, the committee suggested that Mr Mansukh should cede part of the 3,250-acre farmland for use in resettling the affected families, and be fined for diverting water for personal use.
The Senator Kilonzo-led team also recommended the restoration of flow of Watkins stream and Tinderess River that had been blocked by other dams built at the farm.
