2,000 displaced as flash floods hit Baringo Central
A matatu wades through floods waters in Mrakwet following a heavy downpour Photo/Jeptum CHesyina
More than 2,000 people have been displaced by landslides caused by heavy rains in Baringo Central. Two people including a 12-year-boy and a secondary school student died and seven others injured after the landslides swept away more than 40 houses in Kabasis location.
Police boss Ndungu Ikonya said the Red Cross had evacuated residents from areas likely to be hit by the landslides as the heavy rains persist. The Red Cross has deployed more than 50 people to help in the displaced people. "We have asked all the families living in in risky areas to move to safer grounds", said Ikonya.
The displaced people are camping at Kabirmoi Primary School. The heavy rains have pounded the area for the last one week and most families living in hilly areas fear being affected by the landslides. Roads have been rendered impassable after they were covered by heavy boulders of soil and rocks rolling over from the hills.
Meanwhile, the government has deployed more than 100 security officers in Turkana and Pokot counties where 13 people were killed last week. The 13 were killed following clashes between pastoralists engaging in cattle rustling. Seven raiders were shot dead by police in Turkana East, who have been deployed in parts of the North Rift region.
"Our officers are on the ground and they so far managed to stop the attacks," said Rift Valley Provincial Police boss John Mbijjiwe. Mbijjiwe said the officers had been given strict orders to ruthlessly deal with the armed cattle rustlers. Last year, hundreds of police officers were deployed in the region to carry out a disarmament, but so far only 1,200 guns have been surrendered and recovered by the police.
The government sent in officers from the Anti-Stock theft unit and regular police along with administration police officers to help tackle the cattle rustling incidents which have caused another 10 people injuries during the clashes. The government has at the same time planned to intensify the disarmament exercise to get rid of guns held illegally by the pastoralist communities in the two regions.