A lawyer in the probe on the Solai dam tragedy that left 48 dead and several families displaced clashed with the Senate on Wednesday when he interjected responses to inquests by the Senators.
Appearing humbled by the Patel Dam tragedy, businessman Patel Mansukh had lawyer Evans Monari to create a legal ring around him when he appeared before the Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior-chaired house committee.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and his Narok counterpart Ledama Ole Kina were unamused by the lawyer who furiously told the committee that the 48 lives lost did not deserve much attention in the probe.
[caption caption="Families and Red Cross officers stare at caskets of some of the Patel Dam tragedy victims (PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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“Monari has said the charges preferred against his client are serious and it carries a life sentence, that it should not be joked around with and these are his Monari) words. We already lost 48 people. That is serious and should not be joked around with as well,” held Senator Sakaja.
Sakaja appealed to the committee to declare the lawyer and Mr Mansukh hostile witnesses.
Lawyer Monari submitted that the country was serious with the matter for seeking to intensify the probe just for the sake of the deaths.
“The refrain about the 48 people that died is gaining credence in this country. We are forgetting that there are others who were injured, some lost property and are still alive. Those are the people we are facing at and dealing with at Solai,” reacted Mr Monari.
He furiously stated: “ We don't take ourselves seriously as a country if the refrain of 48 people is what makes us come here and answer questions against our constitution.”
The tough speaking Monari further noted: “Senator Sakaja, if you want to declare us hostile, so be it! We have criminal charges and civil action that is facing us and that is what we want to concentrate on.”
Senator Ledama told off the lawyer for castigating the committee and accusing them of only concentrating the probe on the lost lives.
“The lawyer cannot tell us that we are only focused on the people who died. If the dead do not have a voice, we are speaking on their behalf. We are looking at the interests of all the Kenyans who were there,” stated senator Ledama.
The Solai dam owner had informed the committee that the tragedy had been occasioned by what he described as “wanton destruction of forests” around the Solai area where he grew up.
[caption caption="Arial view of the damage caused by the Patel Dam tragedy that killed 48 people(PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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