Residents of Elgeyo Marakwet County living along the Kerio Valley escarpment have been urged to move to safer areas following the emergence of a massive ground crack in Sangin Village, Kokwao Sub-location, Emsoo Ward, raising fears of landslides amid ongoing heavy rains.
County Director for Climate Change, Environment and Forestry, Chelimo Suter, said the county government is closely monitoring the situation, noting that the crack poses a serious risk to lives and property.
“We are aware of the crack, which is about 100 metres long and is located within a sloping area in Sangin Village. Almost 11 households are likely to be affected,” said Suter.
She warned that several areas along the Kerio Valley escarpment, including Soy South, Metkei, Soy North, Emsoo, Sambirir and Embobut, remain highly vulnerable to soil erosion and landslides during the current rainy season.
“These areas are prone to erosion during heavy rains, and we are requesting residents to move to safer grounds to avoid any possible disasters,” she added.
Suter said the county government is working closely with the Ministry of Interior to find lasting solutions for affected communities.
“The county government and the Interior Ministry will collaborate to identify viable solutions to help the affected people,” he noted.
He further cautioned residents against cultivating along the fragile escarpment, urging them instead to embrace tree planting as a sustainable alternative.
“The escarpment is very fragile. We advise people not to cultivate along it but encourage them to plant trees, especially fruit trees, which can also support wealth creation,” she said, adding that plans are underway to map the affected areas for restoration.
Emsoo Ward MCA Christopher Cheboiboch said leaders are on high alert, recalling previous tragedies linked to similar incidents.
“We are vigilant because the last time this happened, we lost lives,” said Cheboiboch. “We are here to assess the extent of the crack in Sagin Village and explore possible solutions, but for now, we are advising residents to move to higher ground.”
He specifically called on residents of Kokwao Sub-location to evacuate immediately as a precautionary measure.
“We urge the people of Kokwao to move to safer areas as we work on a long-term solution,” he said.
Cheboiboch added that a detailed report will be submitted to the Governor and the County Commissioner to guide further action.
“We will present our findings to the Governor and the County Commissioner so that we can chart the way forward and prevent any loss of life,” he said.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to avert a potential disaster in the region.
By Rennish Okong’o
