More than 3000 residents in Kaptebee village in Turbo constituency, Uasin Gishu County are living in fear following mudslides caused by the ongoing heavy rains.
The residents said massive boulders fell from the hills destabilizing the water socked soils already weakened by the heavy rains causing the mudslide.
“The rocks on the hillside cracked and started falling towards people’s homesteads below. Water crevices also formed and drained towards the settlements causing fear of imminent landslide,” said the area MP Janet Sitenei.
Speaking on Friday, the MP said families spend the entire night outside their homesteads fearing that their houses might be swept away after the Thursday night mudslides that left them reeling in shock.
Meanwhile the residents have also appealed to the government to help them reconstruct a bridge that was washed away by the heavy rains.
They said they are unable to access Turbo market directly and are forced to use a longer route which is costly considering the current hard economic times.
However the MP said plans were underway to reconstruct the bridge and further urged residents not to risk their lives trying to cross what’s left of the bridge to access the market.
“This bridge (Sosiani River Bridge) in Turbo side was constructed during the colonial period and a new bridge is required to replace the damaged one,” said Ms. Sitienei.
Ms. Sitienei cautioned residents against going near the rocks saying the mudslide site was still shaky.
Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Bishop Dominic Kimengich held prayers at the scene where the bridge was swept by the floods after visiting the mudslide zone and prayed that the ongoing rains may not cause more misery to humanity.
By Kiptanui Cherono
