The Head of Disaster Management in Kericho, Mr. Eric Chesimet, has singled out Kipkelion West as an El-Nino rain risk area.
Chesimet said, according to the Meteorological Department, alert areas that might be affected by landslide include Kokwet, Kunyak, Chilchila, Chesonoi, and Kamasian villages in Kipkelion West Sub-County. Chesimet said this yesterday during the inauguration of the Kericho County El-Nino Preparedness Committee.
The meeting, which was chaired by Mr. Preston Ochieng, an Assistant County Commissioner (ACC), who represented the Kericho County Commissioner, Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo, was told that Kapmiwa, Kapseger, Kapchorwa, and Mbarakai villages all in Kipkelion West are areas that are likely to experience flash floods and earth movement during the El-Nino rains.
Mr. Chesimet said that to mitigate the anticipated effects of the Nino and ensure early preparedness, the residents in the areas, through the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), have been instructed to get ready to move to safer grounds at the onset of the rains.
Mr. Ochieng also said that chiefs and their assistants have been advised to hold public barazas to create awareness among the residents about the dangers of the El Nino rains and measures to take during the rains to mitigate the effects and tame the loss of lives.
He said that an emergency number 1195 being used by the Red Cross will be used, while other emergency numbers will be provided to assist in case any assistance is required during the rains.
Mr. Ochieng said that all departments are members of the El-Nino preparedness group and that they are required to be key participants in the creation of awareness and other measures to assist people in the areas likely to be negatively affected by the heavy rains.
The ACC said that they had identified areas where the locals can move to in the mapped areas, which include Kapseger and Chilchila Primary Schools in Kipkelion West.
The committee will be meeting regularly to plan and put in place measures to help Wananchi during the period.
By Dominic Cheres
