Today marks exactly five years since Solai dam burst killing at least 48 people, while leaving several others nursing injuries.

On this dreadful day, bodies were collected several kilometres away from the dam that is on the upper part of Solai, Nyakinyua.

The villages that were affected include Energy, Nyakinyua, Endao, Milmet and Arutani.

To date, the tragedy lingers in the minds of many survivors and locals in the area.

John Mwangi lost his beloved wife in the tragedy while two of his children sustained injuries during the incident.

When Mtaa Wangu visited Solai a day prior to the anniversary of the incident, Mr Mwangi was busy in his shop at Solai centre just next to Solai Nyakinyua Primary School.

Just as the centre is struggling to come to life, so is Mr Mwangi, though he reveals that life has never been the same.

Though soft-spoken, he emotionally narrates how the incident dragged him back as he had to start life afresh.

“I lost my wife in the incident and my children sustained injuries. Since then, life has never been the same again,” he says.

Mr Mwangi is quick to note that despite the many court cases and push to have the victims compensated, their efforts have been futile.

Armed with a list of not less than 248 victims, he points an accusing finger at the office of the Chief Justice.

Some of the houses built by Red cross for families affected in the Solai dam tragedy.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

According to him, the issue of compensation could have been sorted a long time ago if the relevant authorities were serious about it.

“In this compensation issue, I can only blame the office of the Chief Justice. This is a matter that would have been sorted a long time ago,” he says.

Mwangi adds that well-wishers such as Kenya Red cross have stepped in with assistance but that cannot be compared to the lives lost in the incident.

On the other hand, Jane Mwangi, though moved on with life after the tragedy, says life has been harsh for her family.

Jane lost her shop in the Solai dam tragedy after it was swept away by water from the dam.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

Jane had taken a loan of Sh 500,000 which she used to set up a shop in the area. Two months after its construction, the shop was swept away by water from the dam.

The need to repay the loan is what pushed her to get up and move on with life.

Jane who now runs an agrovet shop at the Solai Nyakinyua centre, says the journey of finding justice for victims of the dam like her has been at a snail's pace.

“We have never seen justice and the process has been slow,” she says.

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the families having won the first round of a court battle, in which nine people were in April this year charged with causing the deaths of 48 people.

Naivasha Chief Magistrate Nathan Lutta ruled that Perry Mansukh, the owner of Patel Farm in Solai, Nakuru County, where the dam was located, general manager Vinoj Jaya Kumar and seven others have a case to answer.

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Solai dam victims speak five years later

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Pristone Mambili