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Residents of sections of Kiambu county are living in fear following a series of mild earth tremors in the area over the last two days.

 The most affected areas include Limuru town and its environs, Mutarakwa, Ngarariga, Manguo and Ngubi as well as parts of Kikuyu such as Kerwa, Keroe and Nachu.

Local residents say the tremors, which were felt in the area on Monday and yesterday, lasted no more than ten seconds. The first incidences were reported on Monday morning within Limuru town before the same  replicated at noon and later at night before worsening at dawn yesterday.   Stanley Muturi who resides at Manguo area said that the tremors were felt at about 10.20 pm Monday lasting for several seconds.

Professional advise

Contacted, Kiambu Environment Executive Officer David Kuria said the county government is concerned about the tremors and has sought professional advice from experts at the University of Nairobi.

He said that initial reports from geologists revealed that the earth tremors didn’t register in the national earthquakes monitoring systems. “I do not want to speculate and we are waiting for answers from experts before making any statement as a county,” he said.

An earth tremor is a small earthquake which shakes the ground slightly. At times, the tremor foreshocks precede devastating big quakes. It’s worth noting that tectonic plates underneath are always in motion, but they get stuck at the edges due to friction.

When the stress in the edges overcomes the friction, and earthquake or earth tremor occurs.