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The death toll from West Pokot landslides has climbed to 52 even as efforts to retrieve the bodies of other missing persons continue.
At least 22 other people are unaccounted for after mudslides hit Parua, Nyarkulian and Muino areas over the weekend, according to West Pokot Governor Prof. John Lonyangapuo.
Speaking on Monday, Governor Lonyangapuo said the search and rescue mission was being hampered by lack of transports after bridges were cut off.
“The challenge we are facing here is transportation because bridges have been cut off, we need the government to station a chopper here,” he said and urged the national government to deploy a chopper to ferry bodies to the morgue.
“The number of people confirmed dead now is 52. There are other bodies that are yet to be transported from the villages.”
He said the landslides displaced at least 100,000 people from 22,000 homesteads and appealed to well-wishers to donate food items, clothes, and blankets.
Affected families have camped in schools, churches, and other facilities after their houses and livestock were submerged.
“It is a major disaster, I have lost my family and my cows,” said Joseph Edapal, one of the victims.
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on a serious note why did Kenya come up with 54 counties instead of 8 like provinces the funds dedicated for development goes to salaries.
So unfortunate... but deforestation has a lot to do with mudslides. Look how the land is bare and I believe it wasn’t so a few years ago. Poleni
@ James, you are right. Deforestation has alot to do with it.Some of you may remember the damage storm Jeanne in Haiti,killing close to 2000 people,and rendering over 200,000 homeless.The damage was greatly attributed to deforestation.I remember reading that one could hardly see atree in Haiti before the storm.
Unfortunately,as the human population increased,and deforestation takes place, we shall continue to see this kind of devastation.But we can stop,slow it down by conscious steps,such as forestation,and migrating people.
What is there to say when our mpigs & governors divert the funds that are meant to upgrade the standard of living of these people into their accounts? We'll keep on seing them hovering in choppers pretending they're there to help but deep inside are heartless foxes planning to take advantage of the opportunity!