The 48th victim of the Solai Dam tragedy Joyce Nyambura Maina (39) was laid to rest on Tuesday at her Nyakinyua farm in Solai in a very emotional funeral service.
The late is a victim of the shoddy compensation scheme by the owner of the killer Dam Patel Manskul after she lost her home and business during the Solai Dam tragedy.
To make matters worse the late was forced to sign an agreement as far as compensation of the victims was concerned.
It is at this particular period that her hypertension complications started after she was given Ksh 10,000 only as compensation.
The late was taken to Bahati Sub county where she succumbed on Wednesday 4th July 2018 leaving behind 4 children(age between 8 and 16 years).
Speaking during the funeral service, Kabazi Ward MCA Dr.Peter Mbae said the deceased lost her life due to the shoddy compensation exercise and that those who were behind the same should be held responsible.
“The late succumbed to shoddy compensation that was spearheaded by greedy individuals and that is why we are saying we need a system in place to ensure that the genuine victims of the Solai dam tragedy get justice” said Dr.Mbae.
He slammed at individuals who took advantage of the tragedy to con the real victims subjecting them to depression saying they must face the law.
According to the Kabazi MCA, the real victims of the tragedy were left out on the compensation lists; instead the lists contained people who were not affected in any way by the tragedy.
“We have individuals who rushed with the shoddy compensation and that is why this happened but we are saying time is now to ensure a good system in place for compensation of the real victims of the tragedy” he said.
Dr.Mbae added that as leaders they will not rest until the victims of the Solai dam tragedy get compensated.
The MCA said they are concluding the exercise of collecting signatures from the real victims and move to court over the issue of compensation of real victims of the killer dam.
He however sounded a stern warning to individuals masquerading as victims of the Solai dam tragedy that they risk facing the law.“If you know you are not a victim of the Solai dam tragedy please don’t move next to the lawyers doing the registration” warned Mbae.
This coming barely days after the Senate ad hoc committee investigating the Patel dam tragedy in Subukia Nakuru County visited the area on fact finding mission where the members admitted receiving threats from some quotas in an attempt to have the matter compromised.
The committee’s chair Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior speaking over the weekend when the committee visited families affected by the tragedy that claimed 47 lives said members of the committee had received threats.
“We have received threats. Some members of the committee have even been called to be bribed but for the sake of justice, we said no! Lazima kieleweke and we must ensure justice for the people of Solai,” said Mutula.
Details have also emerged that local administrators duped affected families into the signing a compensation agreement.
The families also accused local administrators of altering the compensation list to include people who were not affected.
The Senate committee revoked the compensation list.“Impunity must come to an end and Solai case will serve as an example.
Those who have received money from Patel to mess up the exercise will have to vomit the money. In fact, the compensation lists have been revoked,” said Mutula.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika said the committee will not be intimidated by anyone.
“We know there is pressure left, right and centre for us to abandon the investigations but we are saying we will not be cowed until we ensure justice,” said Kihika.
PHOTO/Pristone Mambili:Kabazi ward MCA Dr.Peter Mbae addressing mourners as the 48th victim of the Solai Dam tragedy Joyce Nyambura Maina (39) was laid to rest in Nyakinyua.
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