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Patel Mansukh, whose son is the owner of the killer Solai Dam in Nakuru, has died.

Patel died while undergoing treatment at the Agha Khan Hospital in Nairobi.

Solai Dam burst in 2018 killing 48 people.

“We pray to Almighty to rest his soul in eternal peace. Funeral details will follow,” Nakuru Hindu Council chairman, Mr Shailesh Sheth said.

Patel family shot into public limelight after the dam tragedy.

He was acquitted by a Naivasha court in February, 2020.

The residents, who had hoped for justice suffered another loss when Mansukh was acquitted alongside eight others after prosecutors handling the case goofed many times and their actions, by design or default, dealt the case a fatal blow.

Naivasha Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali set the nine suspects free over what he termed as a lack of willingness and support from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. But DPP Noordin Haji blamed the Judiciary for the acquittal. 

“I am alarmed by the ruling. We were still in negotiations with some of the parties for plea bargaining agreement and the court knew this. The court did not act on public interest by acquitting the suspects on such a technicality,” Haji said.

The DPP said it was wrong for the Judiciary to base their argument for the acquittal of the suspects on the DPP’s failure to provide witnesses when they had applied for several adjournments in order to reach a consensus on plea bargaining with all the parties.