Nakuru Member of County Assembly Peter Mbae is suing Mansukul Patel, the owner of the killer Solai Dam that burst last month killing 48 people.

Mbae is seeking orders to, among other things, have a social audit carried out on the dams on Patel’s land to establish their safety and also for the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to be compelled to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the dams in the farm and table the report in court within 60 days.

“Given the condition of the dams, there is urgent need for an Environmental Impact Assessment and Social Audit to avoid any future possible loss of lives, injuries and destruction of property,” Njue said in his petition.

He also wants Patel Mansukul ordered to restore the ecosystem within his farm in Solai after the assessment and all natural water courses restored in the community within Solai.

The privately owned Solai dam burst last month and left 48 people dead after ragging water swept across a radius of two kilometers in villages inhabited by about 2,500 people. The dam was constructed in the 80s and is located about 30 kilometers from Nakuru Town.

Officials of the Water Resources Management Authority (Warma) revealed that prior to the Solai dam burst they had been pushing Patel in vain to repair one of the dams near the shopping centre, which had been leaking.

“We had been pushing him to repair that one but this other one we didn’t anticipate,” said Simon Wang’ombe, the regional manager for the Rift Valley.