The government has recommended the permanent relocation of residents in the highly seismic Musoso village in Kangema Constituency.
Last year, the April-May long rains triggered a massive landslide in the village, prompting the affected 25 families to be temporarily settled at the ACK St. Andrew’s Kiairathe Church grounds, where they are still housed to date.
Consequently, a geological survey was initiated to make an informed decision on whether to permanently relocate the residents from that area.
Speaking while handing over the geologist’s report to the area Member of Parliament at Kangema, the PS of the State Department for Mining, Elijah Mwangi, noted that seismic assessments had been carried out. He said the team of geologists recommended the permanent relocation of the residents to avert disasters, as the area was found to be highly seismic.
“The team assessed various infrastructures here and in other parts of the country during the geo-hazard mapping. They established that the nature of rock formation in the soil is prone to seismicity and therefore highly susceptible to landslides,” he said, adding, “With rains, it is bound to get worse and more intense than it was in 2024. Thus, the residents need to be permanently relocated.”
The report further recommended planting trees in the area to prevent soil erosion by stabilizing the soil and providing protective cover.
“Through a multi-agency approach, we will carry out sensitization forums to encourage the community to plant more trees to prevent soil erosion and avert future disasters,” he said.
The PS urged the residents to be vigilant and move to safer grounds whenever they notice any earth movements, rather than waiting for a catastrophe when it is too late.
Further, he noted that they will work with the NGAO officials to ensure terraces are dug in the landslide-prone areas.
“In sloping areas, residents need to dig terraces to reduce both the amount and velocity of water moving across the soil surface, which will greatly reduce soil erosion. This way, rainwater can flow freely without being concentrated in one area,” he averred.
Meanwhile, PS Mwangi implored the residents to support the government, which is committed to implementing various developmental projects in the area, currently valued at over 1.7 billion shillings.
“Here in Kangema, we have the Mau Mau Road, the irrigation project in Kaihi, and the market at Gakira, among others. Let us support the government as it implements these projects,” he observed.
The area Member of Parliament, Peter Kihungi, noted that landslides in the area date back a decade, and the geological survey will help make an informed decision on relocating the residents.
“In 1917, the first landslide occurred, leaving many casualties. In 2018, after 100 years, the ground started sinking, and the people were moved, albeit temporarily, before reoccupying their land,” he said.
“Last year, the heavy rains we experienced triggered the landslides, and the land started sinking again. We had to act quickly and move the people to safe ground before a catastrophe struck,” added the MP.
He also thanked the church for hosting the displaced families and urged them to continue hosting them until plans and funds for permanent resettlement are made available by the government through the National Assembly.
The 25 families were moved from their Musoso village to the church compound when their land started sinking due to the long rains that affected the country last year.
One of the victims, 60-year-old Simon Irungu, thanked the government for relocating them and providing shelter, even as they await permanent resettlement.
Irungu noted that the families lost over 1,200 tea bushes and thousands of coffee stems.
He also observed that the land started sinking in 2017, prompting a temporary relocation, but they had moved back there, only for a massive landslide to hit the area last year, causing the families to lose all their sources of livelihood.
– By Florence Kinyua
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