Solai Dam tragedy survivor reflects on near-death experience
I rushed home, but there was nothing left—not even my house. The water had washed away virtually everything. My family was nowhere in sight. I couldn’t believe the scene before my eyes.
- 3 years ago
May 9, 2022
The Patel Dam in Solei after bursting over its banks and killing 48 people | Photo courtesy of Kenya's Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Multi-Agency
Report (9th to 19th May 2018)
SOLAI, Kenya – The night was the darkest I’ve ever seen, without even with a half-moon to light up the sky. It had been raining for several days, and water noises filled the black night air as if another heavy rainfall was imminent.
There was no light to show proof that the noises we were hearing were indeed signs of a heavy rainfall. But as I was expecting a downpour, I went back into my shop for an umbrella. Now ready for my brief walk home, I went outside to the street.
People standing next to my shop were busy talking about the expected rain. But the noise became louder, and one of them said “That can’t be rain—and if it is, it could kill us.” They ran away, leaving me alone and not knowing what to do—stay in the shop, or make a run for home?
The noise became louder still, and then the earth itself shook.
Devastation for a community
My wife and I used to run our shop together, but on that day, she had left me alone to mind it. She called me in the evening asking me to come along with a packet of sugar.
I closed my shop like every other day, and at 8:10 p.m. was moving toward my home just a stone throw away.
Suddenly I heard something fall with a loud thud—it must have been water hitting my house. I immediately ran into my shop to seek refuge. I locked myself inside, waiting for death; I was sure I wouldn’t survive what was coming.
The roaring wall of water slammed into my shop; for a minute I thought its walls had collapsed. Lucky for me, I was still alive.
Knee-length water, mud and stones filled the room. My clothes were damp and muddy, but I was otherwise unharmed.
I waited till everything was calm to open the window, then waited a few more minutes before venturing outside. It was until everything was calm that I opened the window. I then waited for few minutes before getting out.
The view was devastating. The water had completely destroyed some properties, and with it, livelihoods. We soon learned that the water had even swept away people themselves.
Learning of what I’d lost
I rushed home, but there was nothing left—not even my house. The water had washed away virtually everything. My family was nowhere in sight. I couldn’t believe the scene before my eyes.
I set off to search for them, and thank God, managed to rescue my two daughters that night. I rushed them to the hospital in a Kenya Red Cross ambulance. There, a nurse checked them over and said they were doing well and hadn’t suffered any major injuries.
They were released the next day, and I continued the search for my wife. It was in vain until the third day, when her body was found lying in the morgue. I was crushed. It was a very tough time for me.
Justice delayed is justice denied
Three years down the line, the victims of this tragedy are yet to receive any form of compensation.
I am grateful that at least we have places to call home thanks to the Kenya Red Cross. However, Justice seems out of reach.
