Breakdown of the Solai dam in Kenya: nine defendants acquitted

Text by: RFI Follow

On May 9, 2018, the private Patel dam in the commune of Solai, located some 160 km north of the capital Nairobi, collapsed following heavy rain, killing 48 people. Investigations then showed that the infrastructure did not meet standards.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Nairobi, Sébastien Nemeth

Sunday, February 3, 21 months after the tragedy, nine people, including the owner of the Patel dam in the commune of Solai , were acquitted by a court in Naivasha, north of Nairobi.

The judge brought the hat to the prosecutor's office. For Kennedy Bilali, in fact, the court cannot be held hostage. The magistrate thus released the defendants by explaining that the procedure was not progressing, that the representatives of the prosecution had not come to numerous hearings, leading to multiple postponements. " The prosecution has shown that it is not ready to handle this matter. We have not received any witnesses or testimony, "said the judge.

" I am alarmed, " responded the prosecutor. Noordin Hajji explained that negotiations were underway with the accused and that the court knew this. But he went further by saying that some people in the justice system, the police and even among the prosecutors were compromised in this case, and that the trial should have been held in Nairobi.

Revolted victims

The victims were very upset after this verdict. One woman, who lost her husband in the disaster, said that she was no longer sleeping, and that she did not understand why the owner of the dam had left free court. For her, justice has not been done.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• Kenya

On the same subject

Kenya

Kenya roadblocks: residents denounce "time bombs"