A report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has cited negligence as a major contributor to the Patel dam tragedy in Solai.
Addressing media in Nakuru on Friday, KHRC led by executive director George Kegoro said if there was no negligence the tragedy would have been avoided.
The report blamed laxity among government officers to act on information given by members of the public.
“During our mission in Solai after the tragedy, the commission learnt of ignorance among state officers who include NEMA and WARMA officers to act on early warning information given to them about impending danger,” Kegoro said.
Kegoro said there seems to exist a strong corporate relationship between the local administration and the Patel family, a situation he said could have compromised them.
However, while lauding the quick response taken by the county government of Nakuru and the disaster response team upon receiving news of the tragedy, Kegoro singled out the quick co-ordination of multi agencies which include Kenya Red Cross, the military, Nys and the national police service among others.
The commission questioned the quick move to conduct burial of those who perished during the tragedy, the state having taken control of the funeral programme with little involvement of affected families, loopholes in the payment of consolation cash to the victims and poor co-ordination of the search and rescue mission from day two of the tragedy.
The commission has recommended that all eight dams within Patel coffee farm be emptied to avert any danger in future, proper accountability of relief items supplied, prosecution of the Patel farm management and state officers found culpable and also carrying out of thorough investigation by the directorate of criminal investigations.
Among those interviewed by the commission include state officers, victims of the tragedy, human rights crusaders and journalists.