DPP orders probe on Solai dam tragedy

The Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered that the Inspector General of Police conduct investigations into the Solai dam tragedy.

A statement on Twitter on Friday said the IG is expected to hand over a report on the same within two weeks.

“DPP has directed the IG Joseph Boinnet to carry out thorough investigations to establish cause and culpability if any of Patel Dam disaster and forward resultant investigation file to him in 14 days,” DPP Noordin Mohamed Haji said.

This comes a day after reports emerged that the owners of the dam that killed 44 people after it burst its banks may have ignored safety standard requirements.

40 people are still missing even as the government and humanitarian agencies resume search and rescue operations that were earlier hampered by heavy rains. Over 5,000 people have also been displaced.

The killer dam is apparently one of the three owned by Patel Mansukur, is a large scale farmer.

It spreads over a distance of about 10 kilometres and farm workers had built homes at the bottom of the water reservoir.

A spot check by Citizen TV revealed that there are seven other dams in the area that may pose danger to those living nearby.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet has said the effects of the Solai dam tragedy have made the floods in Kenya a national disaster.