Landslide victims in Kangema subcounty in Murang'a displaced over a month ago have been moved to the ACK Kiarithe church compound.
They were relocated from a nearby primary school.
The 25 families were moved from their Musoso village when their land started sinking as the area is prone to landslides during heavy rain.
Area MP Peter Kihungi led the process of resettling the families in the newly renovated houses at the church grounds in an event attended by Mining PS Elijah Mwangi.
“In 1917, the first landslide happened and it left many casualties. In 2018 after 100 years, the ground started sinking and the people were moved albeit shortly before reoccupying their land,” Kihungi said.
"Heavy rain experienced in the area triggered landslides and the land started sinking again. We had to act fast and move the people to safe ground before a catastrophe struck.
“We thank the church for allowing us to move the victims here and to use their infrastructure. We also thank the Department of special Programmes for provisions for these people like food, mattresses, jikos and clothes,” the MP said.
The displaced families will occupy the church compound for six months as geological survey is carried out by the Ministry of Mining, whose report will direct a plan for moving and settling them somewhere else permanently.
“We will also engage the services of counsellors so that these families can go through counselling for their psychosocial support and restore their lives,” the MP said.
One of the victims, 60-year-old Simon Irungu, thanked the government for relocating them.
“Our lives have been unbearable since we lost our source of livelihood when the land started sinking. The living conditions in the school were difficult, so having a two-bedroom house for my family is a welcome relief,” Irungu said.
The families lost over 1,200 tea plants and thousands of coffee trees. The land started sinking in 2017 and we relocated temporarily before moving back there, only to lose our source of income," Irungu said.
Lucy Waweru, a mother of three, said that the living conditions at the school had deteriorated since schools reopened. Having shelter in the church compound will give them relief.
“At the school, there was no privacy but now we will be able to await a permanent solution, so that our lives can go back to normalcy,” she said.
The residents asked the government to offer them a permanent solution.
