Nandi county governor Dr. Cleophas Lagat has appealed to the residents living along the escarpment of Chepng’abai in Mosop constituency within the border of Nandi and Kakamega counties to vacate the place and look for alternative places to settle for their safety.
Speaking at a funeral function of five people a mother and her four children who were killed by the landslides two weeks ago in the region, Lagat insisted that the area is not safer for human habitation because of mudslides and rocks thus called upon the remaining people who are still living in the area to quickly relocate to safer grounds.
The governor who was flagged off by his officers from the county and the counterparts from the neighbouring county of Kakamega said that the two counties together with the National government through the ministry of special programmes will sit together to find an alternative method of resettling those affected by the disaster.
He said the two governments will have a working committee to establish the really needy people so as to be relocated to a better and safer place so as to avoid loss of lives caused by the disaster.
The governor’s statement was echoed by Shinyalu Member of parliament Hon. Sylvanas Anami who said the two county governments of Nandi and Kakamega will address the matter in partnership with the national government
He proposed that the Chepng’abai escarpment which is rocked by landslides and falling rocks should be left for forestry cover by relocating the residents living there.
The area has a population of around 600 families affected by the situation in dire need of resettlement.
On the other hand, the county commissioner for Nandi Lucy Mulili,while addressing the mourners said there is need of creating a sub location in the region to assist in administrative issues.
She added that she will send a registrar of persons to the area to ensure all youths who have attained the age of 18 years and above get their identification cards.
She said that all Kenyans have a right to get registered and obtain their IDs thus urged the residents of Chepng’abai who have not registered tto do so.
Concerning the issue of staffing of teachers at Chepng’abai primary school, Mulili said she will raise the concern with TSC for more teachers to be posted to the school for the improvement of quality education.
