This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
Relatives of victims of the Friday night deadly landslides in West Pokot were left to dig out their loved ones with bare hands nearly 12 hours after the tragedy, as government emergency rescue failed to materialize.
Residents of the three villages of Nyarkulian, Parua, and Muino, who bore the brunt of mudslides triggered by heavy rains, also said they were yet to receive basic amenities since roads were yet to be opened up to ease transportation of food and warm clothes.
Philip Katina, a resident of Sebit, lamented the slow government response, saying, “It’s shameful that it took Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago to dispatch some machines from the neighbouring county to come and open Sebit-Ortum road that had been rendered impassable for 36 hours.”
On Tuesday, top government officials, led by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, were forced to land in Eldoret and fly back to Nairobi due to poor weather conditions, while Deputy President William Ruto landed in Kapenguria town, about 50km from the scene of deadly landslides.
Dr. Ruto visited survivors affected by landslides at Kapenguria County Hospital, saying, “It’s a disaster that has never occurred in the country and it’s shocking to hear tens of lives were claimed within hours.”
He added that the government would do all it can to mitigate the situation, including supplying enough drugs and deploying doctors from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to work together with county doctors to help the victims in the remote areas.
Interior CS Matiang’i, who flew back to Nairobi after an aborted trip to Kapenguria and Sigor, asked those in parts of Murang’a, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, and Machakos to be on alert, while reassuring the West Pokot County leadership that the national government was committed to addressing the challenges the people were facing due to the mudslides.
Mr. Wamalwa stated that items that had since been dispatched to the affected areas included food and non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, tents, and mosquito nets.
Mr. Mutyambai said all resources in the security department, including trucks, had been deployed to the area to aid in moving affected families.
