Ruto: State will relocate families in danger zones
The government will evacuate and relocate thousands of families living in flood- prone areas of West Pokot county with immediate effect to avert more disasters, even as the death toll of the landslide tragedy rose to 43 people.
Speaking yesterday in Kapenguria town after visiting injured victims of the landslide, who are recuperating at the County Referral Hospital, Deputy President William Ruto said the government will ensure all the families still residing in danger zones are moved to safer grounds.
He warned that the government will not allow the families to return to their former homes that have been washed away by floods owing to danger posed by the landslide during downpours.
Red Cross personnel recovered two bodies from the mud yesterday, bringing the number to 43 amid reports that more bodies could still be trapped in the soil.
Ruto said the government will not compromise on the safety and security of the affected families in its efforts to avert a similar tragedy, adding that the disaster has not only hit the county but the country as a whole.
“The government will ensure that all the people living in landslide-prone areas in West Pokot are evacuated and relocated to safer grounds pending their resettlement in alternative places,” he assured.
The DP said the government, through the Public Works ministry, will embark on opening of roads that have been rendered impassable in areas that have been hit by the tragedy to facilitate rescue and relocation operation without further delay.
Determine needs
“The government is working around the clock to ensure all roads that have been cut off due to the landslide are opened up to allow the multi-agency team to embark on rescue and relocation of the affected families in Pokot South, Sigor and Pkumo Sub-county along the valley,” said Ruto.
Meanwhile, a team of specialised medical personnel from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret landed in West Pokot to attend to the survivors.
The multi-disciplinary team consisting 40 specialists will visit patients and determine their needs, according to their leader Dr Taabu Simiyu, who is also the Emergency department head and a consultancy surgeon at MTRH.
Addressing the press at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital after a brief meeting with the area Governor Prof John Lonyangapuo yesterday, Simiyu said the medical team, included three senior consultants, eight nurses, 10 clinical officers, three public health officers, counsellors and pharmacists.
“Once we reach the patients in wards, we will determine what kind of treatment they require,” he said.
The team will mainly focus on Nyerkulian, Parua and Tamkal primary schools, where hundreds of displaced residents have camped, he added.
Ruto was accompanied by Lonyangapuo, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Pokot South MP David Pkosing, among other leaders.
Receive help
The DP announced that a chopper will be provided to the medical team that will be assigned to treat patients in areas that have been completely cut off from the rest of the country.
He said the affected families will be provided with food, medicine and shelter by the National government to supplement what the regional government’s efforts.
Speaking to the press yesterday morning, Lonyangapuo said bad weather coupled with mist and fog had hampered efforts by the county and national government to access the affected families, who are yet to receive any help.
The county chief urged the national government to urgently deploy the military personnel to help open up roads that have been blocked in the areas that have been affected by the landslides
He said the regional government has no capacity to deal with thousands of families that have been displaced from their homes by the devastating disaster.
Lonyangapuo said the areas that need urgent help from the national government in terms of rescue and evacuation operation are Nyarkulian in Pokot South, Tamkal in Sigor constituency and Paima and Batel in Pkumo sub-county.
“The government’s response to the landslide disaster has been slow despite the gravity of the situation on the ground. We need the government’s presence on the ground to help us in opening the roads to facilitate smooth evacuation of families still trapped in the slopes of the valley,” said the governor.
He said Kenya Red Cross Society and other well wishers are unable to provide assistance in terms of shelter, food and medicine to displaced families due to inaccessible roads leading to 14 camps where residents are camping.
