People in landslide-prone areas told to move to safer ground

People living in landslide-prone areas in the Elgeyo escarpment have been asked to move to safer grounds ahead of the predicted El Nino rains set to begin this month.

Dozens of families are living in the escarpment, known to experience landslides especially during the rainy season, and the warning is meant to prevent loss of life in case of mudslides.

Embolot, Embobut, Endo, Kaben and Mumol in Marakwet East sub-county, have all been mapped as potential landslide regions, with residents of Kapcherop, Chebororwa and Kipsaya in Marakwet West sub-county asked to move to higher ground.

Other areas that have been classified as landslide-prone are Kapchemutwa, Anin and Keu of Keiyo North Sub-County and in Keiyo South Kabechei, Epke, Kocholwo and Turesia have been singled out.

Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui said in 2012 a series of landslides, triggered by heavy downpour, hit the region killing 16 people and displaceing more than 500 families besides leaving a trail destruction.