Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Monday, April 20, ordered for a mass evacuation of people in 7 counties that had been identified as highly prone to landslides during this year's rainy season.
Matiang'i was speaking during a media briefing on the various interventions the Government is embarking on to mitigate the effects of the ongoing heavy rains in the country on the Kenyan population.
"We've directed County and Regional Commissioners to work with the National Government Administration Officers infrastructure to ensure we move populations in mudslide-prone areas in Murang'a, Taita Taveta, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Garissa, Tana River and Kitui to safe places," he announced.
He went on to urge the people living in the areas deemed as highly prone to landslides to heed to his call to move to higher ground to avoid any potential loss of lives.
His announcement comes after a massive mudslide swept over Chesogon, West Pokot County on the afternoon of Saturday, April 18, 2020.
"I am saddened to announce that we lost two police officers who were out there on duty," he stated on his message of condolence.
The Interior CS urged the media to amplify the evacuation message with the utmost urgency as it could very well prove to be the difference between a life saved, and a life lost.
"I want to thank you our colleagues of the media for your consistent support. Without you, there's no way we'd be able to reach out to the entire population,
Join us in amplifying this message, join us in insisting that people heed the warnings they are given," he emphasised.
West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okello, had on Saturday, April 18, announced that efforts to contact officers from Chesogon Police Station and the area chief were unsuccessful.
Matiang'i went on to announce that he would be working closely with West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo, as rescue efforts in Chesogon continued for the third day running.
Governor Lonyangapuo had earlier stated that accessibility to the Chesogon shopping centre was nearly impossible.
West Pokot was one of the areas badly damaged by heavy rains in November and December of 2019, when more than 40 people died after massive landslides. The Chepera Bridge, which was swept away at the time, is yet to be replaced, the governor revealed.
According to the latest report by KTN News, the death toll following the Chesogon centre floods stood at 7 by the time of publishing.
Watch Matiang'i during his press briefing below:
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/5FUiXx-EcQk.jpg?itok=GeDb3s1t","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
