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{
    "id": 798568,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/798568/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 139,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I take this moment to note the visit to Solai area in Subukia Constituency of the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations of the Senate led by the Chairman, Sen. Yusuf Haji and committee Members who included Sen. Fatuma Dullo, Sen. Kwamboka and myself. The Committee conducted a fact-finding mission on the horrific dam tragedy by touring the killer dam and other dams in the farm. While the Committee was on tour, a body was discovered and it raises the question as to why the recovery efforts were hurriedly called off while some families still report that they have missing persons. I look forward to the Committee’s findings being tabled in this House with recommendations on how to deal with the tragedy to its final conclusion and also prevent occurrences of such tragedies in the future. On behalf of Nakuru leaders and the people of Nakuru County, we are indeed, very grateful and appreciate all well-wishers for the donations made so far and the prayers from all Kenyans. A multi-agency committee that has been coordinating the recovery efforts; support to surviving families; receiving, storage and distribution of donations; and planning and preparations for the burial arrangements for the victims is in place under the coordination of the regional commissioner and local leaders. The final interdenominational prayers are scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 16th May, 2018, to bid farewell to the victims and release their bodies for burial by their families. Reports from initial investigations indicate that a wall of the dam build on high ground plunged down sweeping away homes, cars, mud and huge rocks towards a sleeping village. The flood waters and tumbling debris hit the Nyakinyua Village and the neighbouring Energy Village at high speed, washing away homes leaving the rest of the people in pitch darkness. It destroyed everything on its path including a primay school and power lines. The killer dam is owned by one Mansukul Patel, a farmer with over 2,000 acres in that area. The dam lies adjacent to River Kabazi, collecting water from the river and draining it to another dam next to Kamukunji Trading Centre. The Patel Farm has a horticultural farm, coffee plantation and is also involved in dairy farming. In the Solai area where the farm is located, access to the expansive farm with seven dams is highly restricted. The farm neighbours Marigo, Nyakinyua, Solai and Kabazi villages. Although the Patel family has been involved in a number of community social responsibilities such as building a classroom at Solai Secondary School and equipping a local health centre, they have completely denied surrounding community’s access and sharing water from the several dams. They have also diverted two rivers in the area and have made it impossible for the people of that area to get any water because the water does not flow out of their property which is highly restricted. Water is a natural resource whose management is by the national Government under the Constitution. However, recently through negotiations, the national Government ceded the management of water companies and other water resources in the counties to county governments as a step towards effective service delivery under the devolved system of governance. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}