A local chief was called to account after his plan of constructing a dam endangered the lives of one family.
The chief in question, John Ole Taga had planned and executed the digging of a private dam in the Rotian area of Narok Sub-county against the wishes of the residents.
As per a report by K24 Digital on Tuesday, March 31, the controversial dam broke its banks on the night on Monday, March 30, flooding its environs.
Ole Saiyaton, one of the local residents was hit hardest after the floodwaters submerged his entire house while his family was still inside.
The family escaped drowning by whiskers thanks to the quick intervention by the neighbours who heard screams and wailing coming from the house.
“We are lucky to be alive because after the heavy downpour last night, my house was submerged. We started screaming then our neighbours came to rescue us,” said Ole Saiyaton.
"We narrowly rescued all the family members who were in the house from being washed away. However, we were not able to save most of the goods in the house and we helplessly watched as they were destroyed by the water,” stated Fredrick Ole Sankok, one of the village elders who came to the Saiyatons' aid.
Saiyaton, along with the other residents asked the government to intervene and close the dam, terming it as an environmental hazard.
“We have visited the chief’s homestead, with village elders requesting him to close the dam because it is built in a dangerous place, but he has never listened to us. Instead, he is very arrogant and demeaning,” lamented Ole Saiyaton.
Chief Ole Taga dismissed the residents' complaints, claiming that the dam was an asset not only to him personally but to the whole community.
“I have personally spent a lot of money to construct this dam that is of use to the locals here during the dry season. I will be engaging them to find a lasting solution,” stated the chief.
Poor design and siltation of most water dams in Kenya have been faulted for posing a high risk of flooding across the country.
As of May 2018, Kenya had 220 dams and water dams, most of which were full of silt, owing to poor construction.
