Residents of
Mucho village
in Kangema,
Murang’a
county assess
the damage
caused by earth
movements
/ALICE WAITHERA
THE national government wants residents of Muchocho village in Kangema, Murang’a county, permanently relocated over earth movements.
Principal Secretary for Mining, Elijah Mwangi, said an assessment done in the village indicated it was highly seismic and prone to catastrophic earth movements.
The village experienced a landslide last year that displaced 25 families.
The displaced were accommodated at ACK Kiairathe premises during the long rains season and are still living within the church’s compound.
“We received requests from Murang’a, Makueni, Isiolo, Nakuru and Kiambu counties to conduct a geological survey of some of their areas that have experienced earth movements and this village was one of them,” Mwangi said.
A team was dispatched to establish whether the affected areas are still habitable. They also checked the damage occasioned to infrastructural projects implemented by the government.
At Muchocho, the team interviewed residents and took samples which were tested and established that the rock and soil formation were prone to earth movements after getting soggy.
“The team recommended that the residents be relocated as the area was found to be susceptible to more landslides,” Mwangi said.
The PS, who spoke at the church while handing over the geologist’s report to Kangema MP Peter Kihungi, said the government will partner with the county and local administration to sensitise residents on the dangers revealed by the team.
Further, locals will be supported to plant trees and dig trenches to firmup the soils, reduce soil erosion and alleviate earth movements.
“In the sloppy areas, we will work with the communities to do environmental conservation. This will be a multi- agency approach that will help reduce incidents of earth movements.”
One of the major causes of landslides, he said, is loose soils and water being held in one area for some time.
The PS cautioned residents to be on the lookout for earth movements and move to safer grounds once evidence of the same is spotted and not wait until calamity strikes. He urged the MP to look into the recommendations given and ensure the proposals are implemented.
