Almost from the start, Patel Dam seemed prone to leaks, just small ones, nothing too serious. Even villagers in the farms downstream used to joke thus: "See you later if the dam doesn't break".

The da 200,000 cubic metre dam, located at the farm of farmer Mansukul Patel in Solai, Kabazi Ward, is among seven the farmer has constructed to supply water for irrigation in horticultural and livestock fconcern spanning decades.

Patel seems to have carefully chosen the location of the dam; it lies adjacent to River Kabazi - collecting water from the river and draining it to another dam next to Kamukunji trading centre.

Recently, residents claimed the dam sprang ominous new leaks, especially on the morning of May 9. A worker at the farm told The Standard the owner inspected and declared the boulders and sand embarkments stable. But on Wednesday night at around 7:30pm, the dam shuddered and broke apart.

According to witnesses, a wall of the dam built on high ground plunged down the dark canyon, sweeping homes, cars, mud and huge rocks towards sleeping villages.

The floodwaters and tumbling debris hit the Nyakinyua village at high speed washing away homes at the neighbouring Energy village in pith darkness.

Little is known about Patel, the owner of the dam that killed more than 48 people in Solai, Nakuru County on Wednesday night.