Patel Dam owner Perry Mansukh to spend weekend in jail

Patel Dam owner Perry Mansukh and 6 others will be detained at the Naivasha remand prison until Monday pending bail ruling.

The seven, who were appearing before Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja are charged with 48 counts of manslaughter over the Patel Dam tragedy that killed 47 people in May and left many others injured in Solai, Nakuru County.

Mr. Mansukh, Vinoj Kumar (Patel farm General Manager) and Nakuru County Director of Water Johnson Kamau Njuguna were arraigned in a Naivasha Court on Thursday and charged with manslaughter, neglect of official duty and failing to prepare an environment impact assessment report.

The court also issued warrants of arrest against six other officers implicated in the Patel Dam tragedy.

The three surrendered themselves at the Naivasha police Division headquarters just a day after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered for their arrest.

According to the DPP, investigations revealed that the construction of the dam was done by unqualified staff using the farm equipment leading to construction and design flaws.

The other officials wanted over the May 2018 incident include; Winnie Muthoni Mutisya (Water Rights Officer-WRA), Tomkin Odo Odhiambo (Sub-Regional Manager- WRA), Jacinta Were (Assistant Technical Manager- WRA), Williec Omondi Were (NEMA, Nakuru County Director),  Lynnete Jepchirchir Cheruiyot (NEMA officer, Nakuru County), and Julius Kavita (Sub-county Administrator).