Landslides cause havoc in North Rift

The heavy rains pounding various parts of the country have caused havoc in the North Rift region, resulting in displacement of several families and damage to infrastructure.

The Nyaru-Kimwarer road in Keiyo South, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, has been cut off following landslides in the area.

Locals in Kabokbok, Soy South along Kerio Valley have been forced to move to higher grounds.

Landslides have been reported in Kapsiekwa village in Muskut, Elgeyo Marakwet, following heavy rains.

HEED WARNING

All families are safe after they heeded prior warnings to move to safer grounds.

The residents have been warned against continuing to live in the area during this season.

"According to reports done during the assessment of Kimwarer Dam project, the area was said to have a fault line. People should not take this for granted," said County Commissioner Dr Omar Ahmed.

Dr Ahmed said recommendations were being sought from geological experts on safe areas to settle.

Area MCA Jonna Tanui asked the government to find alternative land to resettle the families living along the escarpment.

"A landslide disaster killed people here in 2007 and, since then, the national government has been promising people alternative land. But it has remained just that, a promise," said Mr Tanui.

Mr Tanui said hundreds of families living in the area have nowhere else to move to.

According to Kenya Red Cross Rift Valley regional manager Nick Kemboi, no casualties had been reported ''as

all residents had moved away from the area. It is only the road that has been damaged,” he said.

HIGH ALERT

Mr Kemboi said his team was monitoring the situation in the landslide-prone areas, especially the highland areas of Nandi, Elgeyo-Marakwet and West Pokot counties.

Meanwhile, cereals farmers in the North Rift region are counting losses after several acres of produce were submerged by flood waters.

Reporting by Evans Kipkura, Stanley Kimuge and Barnabas Bii