DP Ruto tells off contractors as Patel Dam death toll rises

Deputy President William Ruto has said contractors must comply with the recquired  engineering standards when building dams to avoid calamities such as that of Patel Dam.

44 people lost their lives after the dam located in a flower farm in Solai, Nakuru burst its banks and swept away homes of locals residing near it.

“Safety measures should be addressed during construction of dams,” the DP said on Thursday.

So far, reports indicate that an estimated 40 people are yet to be traced following the Wednesday night incident and over 5,000 families have been displaced.

It is feared that seven other dams in the area may be posing a risk to other locals as safety standards were allegedly not followed when contractors were building the Patel Dam.

During a meeting with senior officials from the Water and Agriculture ministries at his Karen office, Mr Ruto said existing dams should be monitored to ensure that they are properly maintained with the use of current technology.

Water PS Fred Segor revealed that 141 small dams have been built across the country, and 90 percent may have been filled following the heavy rains.