Locals ordered to leave zone as death toll hits 41

Administration policemen carry a recovered after landslides hit two villages in West Pokot County. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Residents of Nyarkulian and Parua in West Pokot County were yesterday picking up the pieces after a catastrophic landslides that has left at least 41 people dead.

And Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya, who flew to Kapenguria, about 40km from the tragedy scenes, ordered villagers to vacate landslide-prone areas. 

At Lulwei village, seven members of Chemurto Yobokabel's family perished and at least 49 houses were swept away.

Yobokabel and his wife are lucky to be alive since the patriarch was away at a nearby trading centre while his wife had gone to a neighbour's house after the intensity of the rains increased on Friday night. 

By last evening, West Pokot County commissioner Apollo Okello confirmed that the death toll had risen to 41.

Mr Okello said last evening that 30 bodies had been recovered while 11 others were still buried in the mud.

Senior government officials could not access the scene of the tragedy due to bad weather.

But according to Monica Kalinyongar, assistant director of emergency and disaster response in West Pokot County Government, 53 bodies had by last evening been recovered while 29 were still missing.

When The Standard team visited Yobokabel's home, he had gone to Kapenguria County Hospital to view the bodies of his family members. 

His neighbours who survived the incident recalled a night of horror and talked of scenes they would wish to forget. 

Debris comprising rocks and tree trunks had flattened to huts belonging to Yobokabel's family. 

"The rains started as a drizzle at 7pm. The intensity increased at 9pm and at midnight rain water started running down villages," said Joseph Kemboi.

Mr Kemboi said the flash floods started sweeping through homesteads before triggering the landslides at 2:30am.

According to Kemboi, four of his relatives met their deaths as they attempted to rescue three children trapped in one of two huts in Yobokabel's compound.

"I was among a group of men who rushed to the home to rescue the three children, but, unfortunately, we realised they were already dead," said Kemboi. 

He added: "On our way back, two women who were carrying babies were swept by running waters as we watched helplessly. The bodies of the elderly woman and the children were found at the bottom of the slopes."

Tremors felt

He said tremors were felt in various areas in the village as the earth moved, wreaking havoc.

Priscilla Samuel said she saw it all the night Mother Nature punished the village. 

"A few metres away, one of two boys on a rescue mission lay buried by debris. 

"We counted the dead and they numbered seven. It was too painful to bear," said Ms Samuel.

Priscilla Chebosongurtries to salvage properties belonging to her relatives from a house that was swept away by a mudslide at Nyarukulian in West Pokot County. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Moses Losekira, a neighbour, who lost at least 10 goats and some cows, said he was yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

Mr Losekira, who is also an elder in Lulwei, said, "A humanitarian crisis loomed if help doesn't come soon".

West Pokot County director in charge disaster response Joseph Kamasharipu said there were signs that more landslides could occur in the mountainous area.

Mr Kamasharipu said nearly 50 houses were either buried or swept away. 

Eight injured

The county official said eight people were injured in the village and were admitted to different hospitals.

An evacuation camp has been set up at Lulwei Primary School, even as disaster teams and the county government took head count of residents in the affected area.

Donning blankets and sweaters, children, their mothers and the elderly had been gathered at the evacuation camp. 

They braved the rains and cold weather that persisted to yesterday afternoon.

Kochemurkomen Losiakim, an 80-year-old woman, said: "My house was swept away. Two cows and household items were buried in the house. I have nowhere to turn to. The camp is too cold for me."