Families that were displaced from their homes in Kangema, Murang’a county, by earth movements are set to be relocated to a safer area.
The 22 families have been camping at ACK Kiairathe church since their farms were swept away by landslides by torrential rains experienced in the area in April and May last year.
Others had numerous cracks form in their farms, making it dangerous to continue living there. Farms were left partially destroyed in Muchocho, Kairathe, Rwathia and Kahindu villages.
"We have received a report that has mapped these villages as high-risk zones that are no longer safe for human settlement," Public Service CS Moses Kuria, who visited the families on Monday said.
An assessment conducted last year indicated that the area was highly seismic and prone to catastrophic earth movements.
The Department of mining and geology also dispatched a team to establish whether the affected areas were still habitable and assess the damage caused to infrastructural projects implemented by the government.
In Muchocho, the team interviewed residents and took samples that were tested and established that the rock and soil formation were prone to more earth movements after getting soggy, recommending that the affected families be moved.
"There is no other viable solution except relocating the affected families to safer areas. We cannot allow people to continue living here and risk their lives," the CS said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the families by providing them with necessities until the relocation process is completed.
Kuria said the government is looking for alternative land where these families can be resettled, urging the affected residents not to return to the landslide-prone areas as plans for relocation are finalised.
"The government is lining up mitigation measures that will be implemented to stabilise the affected land that is sinking to avert more earth movements," he added.
Kangema subcounty is one of the areas affected by heavy rains in the county and experiences landslides almost every rain season.
In 2021, nine families had to relocate from their homes in Wanjerere after a landslide that swept away thousands of tea bushes on one farm left their homes unstable.
At the same time, farmers in Kanyenya-ini reported the development of cracks in their farms that also affected roads.
A year before, a landslide paralysed transport along the Kiriani-Kangema road that connects Mathioya and Kangema subcounties after sweeping off part of the road that had been repaired again by Kenya National Highways Authority in 2018, at a cost of Sh176 million.
Kangema MP Peter Kihungi urged the government to expedite the resettlement process, saying the 22 families have been suffering in the camps, especially considering most have school-going children.
"The families have been sheltered on the church compound since they left their homes. Living in temporary shelters is not easy. Relocation will give them a chance to rebuild their lives and settle," he said.
The MP said continuous risk assessment and land rehabilitation is required in the area to curb future disasters.
