Reports Leo Odera Omolo, In Kisumu City.
SCORES of people were rendered homeless following a major landslide which erupted at Got Ranyinya in West Kamagak Location,in Oyugis Division Rachuonyo South district.
The crack occurred following incessant heavy down pour which had pounded the area for the last forty eight hours. Villagers were left in a great panick fearing more landslides. More rains were expected last night.
The landslide destroyed close to 40 acres of food crops. It caused cracks in close to 50 houses forcing the villagers to flee their homes. On the top of the small Got Ranyinya hills, there were deep cracks forming gullies, some of which are as deep as 30 feet.
The area District Commissioner Mr. Jophn Ole Kepas, appealed to the resident and those living in the nearby villages to move to much safer areas. He said his office has already been in contact with the Ministry of Special Programmes and asked them to come to the rescue of the families, which were forced out of their homes.
Some of the villagers told this writer that they were contemplating renting houses at the nearby small Uhuru Market. But they really don’t have money for paying rents. Most of the occupants of the close to 30 houses destroyed have moved out and were reported taking shelters with relatives and friends in the nearby villages.
The villagers said they experienced the first major land slide in the area, which occurred in 1998 during the El-Nino rains. The government had promised to look for the alternative land, but so far nothing has been done. The situation, they said is life threatening. The whole hill has been tilted and standing hanging conspicuously in the air as if it is just about to sink into the underground. The is a sad experience never witnessed before, they said.
The area, which has two permanent water sources, Soko Kodhungo and Soko Komiti, suffered a landslide in 1998. But the latest occurrence has sent villagers panicking as far as three kilometers away.
The inhabitants of the area, most of them members of the Kachieng’, Konyango and Wasweta sub-clans, said they have nowhere to go. Though the incident is a natural calamity, they would like the government to provide for them an alternative land to settle them once and for all.
“The landslide caused big cracks all over the Hill as you can see, but some of us have nowhere to go. There is nothing we can do, and we only hope that our government this time around will do something in our favor, said one resident. The villagers, however, expressed their appreciation to the area DC, Mr Ole Kepas, for his prompt response to their appeal for assistance.
Some of the affected families have moved to markets places like in Oyugis Town and Ober Market. Others moved to the shopping centre at Gamba (Rioma Market) for their safety.
ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com