Patrick Munyao, a village elder from Kyondu village, Mung’ala sub location in Mumbuni North of Machakos County recalls the landslide started as a small crack in the earth back in the 80s and has been expanding gradually spreading fear throughout the community about the looming catastrophe.
Munyao’s face conveys a tale of fear and anxiety, as he together with village mates share their anxiety and recount how the two-kilometre-wide landslide has robbed them of their freedom of movement, joy and peace of mind over the years.
He says they have been having sleepless nights since the landslide has been expanding and deepening to 100 meters over the years, which has caused them to suffer major losses such as cattle which slipped over, trees and farms that were swallowed up by the landslide.
The village elder said the situation keeps getting worse during the rainy season adding that the landslide has caused cracks on most farms making it dangerous for anyone cultivating food or business and appealed for help from the local leaders to seek ways to resolve the problem permanently.
“We are living in fear and we plead with the government to come to our aid because the cracks have reached nearby houses and farms. Something should be done to stop them from crumbling,” lamented Munyao.
Nyumba Kumi Chairman of Kyondu village, 41-year-old Daniel Kithome recalls his youth as a jovial period when they freely played around the village and usually hopped over the crack when going to school, until the crack became the landslide that has deprived them of everything they valued.
He adds that his father died after he slipped into the landslide one night and the family retrieved his body at the bottom and since then, he refers to the landslide as the monster that swallows’ cattle, humans, trees, farms and houses.
Kithome, who doubles up as vice-chairman of Kyondu funeral association, said that one of his neighbors recently slipped into the landslide and broke his legs adding they have been calling on local leaders to intervene but nothing has been done so far.
He laments that the landslide has brought about the destruction of their natural habitats such as the trees and vegetation which has resulted in soil erosion and also made other villagers vacate their homes which has caused a significant impact on the social and economic livelihoods of the community members.
The Nyumba kumi leader shares that one of their neighbors who bought land and was already halfway through building his house, felt the crumbling landslide increase and kept approaching his house, he packed up and left for good and adds that sadly that now no one wants to invest in their village.
Kithome is apprehensive about his family’s future and with the investments he has, he wonders how far the crumbling landslide will reach. He said they have to supervise their children and cattle to keep them from playing near the edge and slide off into the ravine.
“I am afraid for my children, businesses have gone down and now no one wants to buy land in our village. We ask the County and National governments to come to our aid before it’s too late since it has already caused psychological traumas in our community,” cried Kithome.
Ruth Mutheu says she came to the village in the 80s and all was good especially the farms, water and roads were all in good condition but as the landslide kept on expanding it destroyed the roads and farms
She notes that the village road that they used commonly was connecting them to other villages, schools and other amenities but the crack that has spread to become the major landslide, has denied them the freedom and basic requirements that a community needs to grow.
“We have to slide through the trees to get to the other side and it’s dangerous especially if one comes home late from work and it’s so dark one cannot risk sliding into the landslide and our children cannot play or move about freely hence we need help urgently,” said Mutheu.
Mutheu notes that the cracks have spread to all the farms in the village and most nights especially during the rainy season they can hear the crumbling of the landslide which spreads fear through the whole community adding they are afraid it will catch up with them in their homes anytime if the leaders don’t intervene
According to the Mung’ala Assistant Chief Jackeline Syokau, the landslide has been there for a long time and she has already reported to the relevant authorities and is hopefully waiting for them to play their part.
She further added that they had been working with area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Gideon Kavuu, who passed away a year ago and they are awaiting his replacement for the interventions to prevail.
By Anne Kangero
