Patel Dam owner to spend night in police cell

Mr. Perry Mansukh Kansagara, the owner of the Patel Dam that killed 47 people in Nakuru County, will spend Thursday night in police cells alongside three others charged over the tragedy.

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.

Appearing before Naivasha Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja, the three pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were detained pending determination of their bond on Friday.

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.

“Upon review of the file, I have established that there is criminal culpability on the part of WARMA-(WRA), NEMA and county government officials entrusted with the mandate of inspection, monitoring and control of the safety of the dams,” said the DPP.

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).