Moi’s rural village hit by landslide, victims cry for help

Landslides have hit Baringo Central, including late former President Moi's rural village in Sacho ward.

Other villages affected by landslides are Kiptagich, Kaptich, Kabarak, Timboiwo, Kabasis and Tandui. More than 200 families have been displaced.

The landslides started on Monday and the latest was on Wednesday night.

The landslides are a result of the ongoing heavy rain in the region. The rain started in April and Met predicts it might continue to December.

“This area has loose soil, sharp hills, old trees and loose rocks,” retired Kiptagich assistant chief Luka Tingos said on Thursday.

He urged the county and the national governments to intervene and relocate the victims.

Apart from displacements, the victims lost crops worth millions of shillings. “I watched my 250 indigenous trees and crops being swept downhill,” Tingos said.

The retired chief fears that another landslide might occur soon. "We have noticed several cracks in this area, a sign that a disaster is looming," he said.

Victim Felix Cheruiyot said he was in the house with his family when he heard a loud bang. At first, he thought it was a road accident, but moments later, mud swept through his house.

Cheruiyot said he relocated with his family to a relative’s home in the next village.

Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony said he has assigned a team of experts to assess the situation.

“Building of gabions from the bottom of the hill to the top could be the answer,” Chepkwony said.

Senator Gideon Moi said something needs to be done urgently to control the landslides.

Edited by A.N