A Senate committee investigating the Solai dam tragedy that killed 47 people in Nakuru County has asked interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to suspend the County Commissioner and Chiefs involved in the pay-outs issued to the victims.

According to the committee chairman Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, the County Commissioner, his deputy and area chiefs issued the controversial pay-outs on behalf of the dam owner, which the Solai dam burst victims said they were duped into accepting.

“We recommended in that interim that the CS must suspend the National Government officials who have been seen to participate in a partisan manner in the question of Solai. We do not understand how the County Commissioner can be the one issuing out payouts on behalf of the owner of the dam while the same government is investigating the owners of the dam,” the Mutula said.

SOLAI DAM VICTIMS DUPED?

The Solai victims have come out to say that they were duped to accept sh 100, 000 in compensation only to realize days later that the documents they had signed were discharge and indemnity forms intended to cushion the dam owner, Mansukh Patel against any further claims.

The Senate committee further said the pay-outs would interfere with the case in court, where the Solai dam owners have been charged with manslaughter.

Businessman Perry Mansukh Kansangara and Jaya Vinod Kumar of the killer Solai dam in Nakuru and four others were arrested last weekend after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered their arrest.

Noordin Haji directed that Perry Mansukh Kansagara Patel be arrested to face charges of manslaughter.

The suspects were later released on  Monday after being granted a SH 5M surety bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh2.5 million.