Tears as mass held for 47 Solai dam tragedy – PHOTOS
Emotions ran high on Wednesday when relatives and friends of the victims of Patel dam tragedy converged to pay their last respects.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto attended the requiem mass held for the 47 victims.
“I am saddened by the accident and I pray for quick recovery of survivors,” said President Kenyatta while condoling the relatives and friends of the victims.
The president said the government would continue to support victims of floods across the country.
He also pledged to issue title deeds to the occupants of the expansive Nyakinyua land, where most of those affected by the Patel dam tragedy live.
“The government will construct a dam in this area to supply residents with clean water,” added the President.
Forty-two bodies were claimed from mortuaries in Nakuru county for burial. Their coffins were ferried to various destinations by eight National Youth Service (NYS) lorries.
“We are here as church members so as to console the families as they travel taking their loved ones to their final resting places. The bodies have already been removed from the mortuary,” said Alex Maina, a church leader.
Twelve victims were buried at the Solai Public Cemetery since they did not have land.
Report by Peter Mburu, Magdalene Wanja and Eric Matara.