Over 100 families homeless after landslide

More than 100 families in West Pokot County are now homeless after their homes were swept away.

Residents in Ortum and Kerelwa areas in Batei Ward have been forced to seek temporary refuge after landslides destroyed their in homesteads.

At Ortum, reports of landslides began last year after heavy rains with farm produce, animals and houses being swept away.

Forced to move his family

Mr Amakal Kisang told the Nation how he was forced to move his family after he discovered steep cracks in his compound.

“My family and I had to rush to a neighbour for refuge after we woke up one day to see death glaring at us since our compound was full of cracks while trees on top of the mountains were moving towards our side along with the soil,” he said.

He said he only managed to save his cattle as his crops and house were all swept away.

Children are no longer going to school and reports indicate that residents are now fighting diseases and hunger as a result of the floods.

Slow response

Area ward representative Simon Kalekem chastised the government's 'slow' response to such disasters in some parts of the country.

“It so unfair for the government to ignore our constant calls for action yet funds that were recently aside for emergencies are being distributed to restricted regions,” he said.

He said county officials had warned the national government of the impending danger but no action has been taken.

“The central government should stop being reactionary in disaster management and instead be precautionary.

“Are they waiting for death before they can come to the rescue of these people?” he posed.

In 2008, 11 people were killed following a massive mudslide. (READ: Mudslide kills 11 in West Pokot)