6 dead, several injured after landslide in Kiganjo

Six people have died and several others were injured after their homes were swept away by a landslide in Kiganjo village, Mathioya, Murang’a County, on Sunday night following heavy rain pounding the area.

The midnight incident saw three houses swept away, but the heavy downpour hampered the rescue mission.

The disaster management team, in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, embarked on a rescue mission Monday morning when the bodies were retrieved.

Murang’a County Disaster Manager Bilha Wanjiku said four people escaped unhurt, while two were rushed to health facilities for treatment after being rescued.

“The landslide affected four acres of land, and an unknown number of livestock also died,” Wanjiku said.

Wanjiku advised the locals to move to safer grounds, saying the area was still unsafe for them as more landslides were likely to occur.

“We have advised the locals to move to Mutitu Polytechnic where they can stay for some time until the rains subside,” she remarked.

The landslide occurred a few meters from where another incident happened four years ago where a handful of people were killed.

Landslide

Murang’a County Director of Meteorology Anthony Kinyua urged locals in the landslide-prone areas to be on the lookout for earth movements as heavy rains continue.

Kinyua said the heavy rains are expected to peak this month, noting that the county was experiencing above-average rainfall and that soils were fully saturated.

“The upper highlands are prone to landslides due to the steep topography and loose soils, and we are urging the locals to be on the lookout for any fault lines on the ground,” Kinyua remarked.

He said the meteorological department is closely monitoring the situation, adding that the disaster management team is on standby for any incident that might occur.

Every rainy season leaves a trail of destruction in the area, with hundreds of people being affected.

In 2020, there was a proposal to have a geological survey conducted in the area to earmark the landslide hotspots. The leaders had proposed the relocation of people living in potentially risky areas to avert loss of lives.