- A spot-check by the Star revealed that some residents have started to move to safer grounds
- They said hills are showing signs of disintegrating and erosion, causing panic
Residents of West Pokot county have been put on high alert of landslides after heavy rains pounded the region.
Already two villages, Mokoyon and Meshau in Pokot South subcounty have experienced small landslides.
Pokot Sou9th has been experiencing heavy rains after a week-long downpour.
The rains and landslides have destroyed farms and homes.
A spot-check by the Star revealed that some residents have started to move to safer grounds.
They said hills are showing signs of disintegrating and erosion, causing panic.
“We are uncertain of what will happen next. The deadly tragedy that happened here some years ago is still etched in our minds," said Charles Nguriaki, a resident.
In 2019, more than 20 people died, properties were destroyed and thousands displaced in Muino, Nyarkulian and Parua villages after landslides hit the area.
Another deadly tragedy in 2020 killed more than 50 people, destroyed property and displaced more than 1, 500 people in Chesegon.
In March last year, one woman was killed by flash floods in Muino in Pokot Central subcounty.
The flash floods also destroyed Chemutlokotyo Secondary school and Ortum market.
Other areas prone to mudslides and landslides are Tapach, Sondany, Nyarkulian, Parua, Muino, Cheptongo, Ortum, Kelerwa Kalee and Solion.
Upper Batei, Tapach, Weiwei, Upper Lomut and Cheptulel are also prone.
The Meteorological department says highlands are expected to receive heavy rains with positive and negative effects.
West Pokot County Disaster Management chief officer David Chepelion said the devolved unit has put in place measures to deal with the effects of the heavy downpour.
He said a multi-sectoral disaster preparedness committee is ready to deal with any emergency.
Chepelion said the committee has mapped out Ortum, Kongelai, Kacheliba, Parua, Nyarkulian and Muino as areas at more risk.
"We urge residents to be cautious and take individual care in as much as the government is tasked to ensure citizens' safety," he said.
Chepelion said the county has started to plant trees in landslide prone areas and urged locals to support the initiative.
“We have already planted more than 10 million tree seedlings. The only solution left is afforestation to curb these calamities,” he said.
Kenya Red Cross Society coordinator Scholastic Kapelo urged families in landslide prone areas move to safer grounds.
"We are also asking residents to desist from building their houses beneath or near hills as it exposes them to more risks," he said.
Pokot South's hilly terrain has seen landslides slowly take place.
Deputy county commissioner David Bowen said the magnitude of the landslide could be higher than predicted.
"I urge residents to move to safer areas because we do not know the magnitude of the rains and we do not want to take risks,” he said.