The Solai Secondary school in Nakuru County continues to remain a buzz of activities. It is the main camp holding at least 450 families that were displaced following Wednesday night Patel dam burst that wreaked havoc on the villages of Nyakinyua and Energy.
Kenyans from all walks of life have been streaming in at the center with humanitarian aid comprising of food and non-food donations. At the site, the Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK) has set up a counseling desk for victims who are yet to come to terms of the fateful tragedy.
Teresia Njeri, a mother of two has come to visit the center still clinging on hope that she will find one of her 6 year old son who was swept away by the raging waters of Patel dam.
‘’We have gone to the mortuary but am yet to find my son. One lady told me she had picked my son from the sludge of mad and took her to the mortuary, and now I am worried that someone might have mistakenly picked my son’ ’says Njeri
Njeri is not the only one in search of counseling at the HAK center but those seeking counseling are growing by the day according to Fanis Lisyagali the executive director of the Healthcare Assistance Centre Kenya.
‘’We are also providing counseling to those admitted to hospital at Bahati sub county hospital to ensure people speak out and relieve their thoughts’’
Despite being in an unfamiliar territory, families have grouped in clusters with children remaining oblivious of their surroundings. The Kenya Red Cross is working in hand with well wishers to ensure the families don’t lack the basic amenities such as food, shelter and clothing.
According to Kenya Red Cross Emergency Operations manager Ventana Ndighila, this shelter is only temporary until a lasting solution is found.
‘’We have settled the affected families temporarily in this school so that they can get attention from a central part so, here they are staying in some of the classes, but we have provided them with mattresses, blankets, meals and we are offering hot meals from a central point, and we are trying to also support the specific needs in terms of children and lactating mothers,’’says Ndighila
While addressing a press briefing earlier today, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyajui mentioned that interdenominational prayers would be held on Wednesday as they set the date for the burial of the 45 who have lost their lives.
Kinyajui further reiterates that the operations have been scaled down and not called off contrary to earlier speculation.
An investigation has been launched to determine if there’s any criminal culpability on the dam’s owner. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation has since instructed the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett to open a file on the investigation process and a report be presented to him in 14 days
