The government has come under fire due to the slow pace at which it’s addressing the West Pokot landslides aftermath, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 52 people in Nyarkulian, Muino and Parua. A humanitarian crisis still looms with more than 10,000 people in dire need of aid.
Residents in some of the affected areas said that they were yet to receive basic necessities since some of the blocked roads were yet to be opened up to ease transportation of food and warm clothes.
This comes even as Kapenguria County Referral Hospital morgue’s bodies’ limit has been reached, and officials have been forced to seek assistance from Kitale County Referral Hospital mortuary in the neighbouring Trans Nzoia County.
County leaders led by Governor John Lonyangapuo have hit out at top government officials for the way they’ve responded to the crisis. This comes after Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa said they were unable to reach the sites of tragedy, citing poor weather.
However, the Governor said they are using choppers to supply humanitarian assistance to areas affected including Muino, Tamkal and Parua. “We have heard that top government officials decided to cut short their journey to this place because of clouds but we are here, and we are not seeing any clouds,” noted Lonyangapuo.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing also faulted state officials for failing to make the trip to the sites of tragedy.