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{
    "id": 800225,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/800225/?format=api",
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    "content": "we heard from the families of the victims were harrowing. The saddest occurrence was the attitude that kept being repeated by everybody who spoke of “it has happened, let it be.” Lives were lost and we were told it was an act of God. Even the church had the same attitude. It was as if there was an agreement that no one should take responsibility, whether the owner had a dam license or not. The tragedy had happened and it was an act of God – “ ya Mungu ni mengi”. I thought hypothetically if a dam that has been put up along River Ngong’ burst its banks and swept away Karen Estate or a dam in Kiambu County swept away Runda Estate, will we be in the same situation like now, where we are trying to force a discussion on this issue? It is as if in this country, there are different categories of different values of life. This has happened not only in Solai, but also in Tana River where we visited two weeks ago. Villages were swept away because of similar natural causes. The law exists for a reason; there is a reason why dams need to be registered and certified to be proper. There is a reason why we have WARMA. When some individuals know that they are able to do one or two things for society, they feel as if they do not need to go by the set out regulations. That is impunity. The Committee will establish whether the regulations were followed or not. However, the attitude of letting it passby without establishing what really happened, should not be entertained. The Committee needs to follow up on this issue to its logical conclusion. That is the same attitude we see when buildings collapse in this country. A few years ago in Nairobi County, a building collapsed in Huruma in Mathare Constituency. We lost tens of thousands of lives. The president went there. I was also there for a while. We marked buildings for demolition, but nothing happened. Last week, another building collapsed in the same area and lives were lost and nothing happened. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to put it to you if a building collapsed in Kileleshwa or Lavington estates right now, there are people who will be behind bars by the end of the day. When will the poor person in this country get justice? Do we have a different set of laws for the people who cannot speak for themselves? Why are we even in this House? It is extremely painful that the downtrodden do not have a voice. It has always been easier to take action when something affects those who are better off in society. The other day we had an incidence in Moi Girls High School, Nairobi. It was sad and I am glad that action is being taken. What happened in that school happens almost daily in Mukuru kwa Njenga Slum and other slums in this city. When will we ensure that justice is our shield and defender and available to the richest and poorest person in this country? If we, as a Senate, cannot assure Kenyans of that, then we have no business being in this House or being called leaders. I am glad that we are looking at the possibility for compensation. We will never return the lives that were lost. Let every Kenyan know whether he is a businessman, a politician or an ordinary citizen that there is a reason why we have laws. If we do not follow laws, we lose lives. Corruption and lawlessness cost live. Today it is Solai; tomorrow it might be your county, family or relative. No one is above the law. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I trust that the Committee will take its time to objectively listen to the victims of the Solai tragedy and put to task agencies of law enforcement on why to 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."
}