Panic has cropped mudslides and floods stricken survivors at the devastated Chesegon area along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties border after the Saturday tragedy that claimed 4 lives.
Residents have deserted their villages after losing their homes, livestock, crops and their loved ones—in what some local residents have described as their worst disaster in memory.
Heavy rains on Saturday cut off the connections for more than 350 households and the area is still surrounded by floodwaters.
But there’s a scarcity of water and food in these makeshift shelters, according to the flood displaced people.
Basic sanitation is also lacking, as a result of which many people have contracted cold.
Moreover, the families who sought refuge on higher grounds since the onset of the heavy rains are living in a deplorable state and risk contracting communicable diseases unless urgent measures are set to address their plight.
Many women and children in these areas who are spending their nights in caves and bushes on hills along river banks and a few in their kins’ homes are surrounded by floodwater without receiving any relief.
As the search for missing bodies continues, all destroyed houses are under the mudslides and water, and the bodies of several missing people are suspected to be trapped underneath.
Flood victims have said that the government has been slow in responding to their plight this time round.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo said they are expecting food and other humanitarian supplies from the national government.
Lonyangapuo said that the victims urgently need food and non food items like tents, mosquito nets and relief food among other basic requirements. “Majority of the victims come from poor family backgrounds and they have exhausted the little food and savings,” he said.
CAS Energy and former West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin who toured the place said the calamity was shocking and devastating.
Kachapin who condoled with those who lost their loved ones proposed for quick and urgent measures to prevent the occurrence of such a calamity in future.
He pointed out that power lines, poles and transformers have been swept away plus the entire Chesegon trading centre which has been a pillar in bringing peace between the two warring communities, that is the Pokots and Marakwets along the common border.
West Pokot County CEC Health Jackson Yaralima confirmed that seven survivors of the deadly floods are at Apollo health center where they are recuperating, “Most of the victims suffered bruises and those in critical condition were airlifted to Eldoret Moi teaching and referral hospital.”