Government urged to resettle families

By Osinde Obare

Pokot leaders have urged the Government to relocate over 500 families affected by a recent mudslide in Sondany village in West Pokot County.

Led by former Public Works PS John Lonyangopuo and West Pokot County women representative aspirants Teresa Lokichu and Josephine Chebet they said the area was prone to mudslides.

Petition

“We are petitioning the Government to take up the land occupied by the affected families and resettle them to save lives.”

Two people are still missing while more than 270 families were rendered homeless in Sondany location, South Pokot District after mudslides hit the area last week. Area DC Arthur Bunde said they have asked residents to be on the lookout especially on the riverbanks and rubbles of the destroyed houses for the missing bodies. The tough terrain in Pokot south district that recently experienced mudslide is making it hard for humanitarian agencies to access the affected.

Heavy rains rocked the sloppy areas of Kakoro, Kaipawis, Losa, and Chongech.

North Rift Regional Red Cross Disaster Response Officer Kennedy Mulama said the affected families lost property.

He called on the Government to end loss of lives during rainy seasons.

The families are now camping in Kaipawis Primary School and are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

Last April, over 11 people were killed and hundreds displaced by a mudslide in Anne Tares in Sondany location after heavy rains.