Fears after rains lead to formation of fissures, land cracks in parts of Rift Valley

Geologists attribute the occurrences to the heavy rains that have left a trail of destruction including damaged infrastructure, washed away farmlands, and led to internal displacement of persons. 

Citizen TV visited the land fissures which indicate danger and have forced locals in Kaptembwa to flee following the heavy rains, which exacerbated the situation, and heavy flooding leading to more cracks and formation processes that still keep them away from their homes.

“Siku ya jana tulikua kazini na tukapata nyumba zimesink haswa Ile yangu iko mwisho imesink kabisa hatujaweza kukomboa chochote kwa sasa hatuna mahali pakwenda, tumekesha tu hapa kanisani,” said Kevin Ateya, a resident.

A similar sentiment is shared by locals here in Kaptembwa, whose worry keeps on growing over uncertainty on when to return to their lands, which have been defaced due to geological processes.

In November 2020, parts of the Nakuru and Naivasha areas experienced similar formations, leading to the displacement of people and the destruction of property.

“Mimi mwenyewe niko na watoto wanne sina vile naweza jisaidia nao kwa wakati huu, vile mnatuona tukiwa hapa hivi tumeshindwa vile tunaweza kujisaidia ndipo tuweze kuondoka mahali hapa kwa hivyo tunaomba tu serikali iweze kutupa usaidizi ili tuweze kujisaidia kwa maisha yetu,” a resident Rose Aseka said.

A land formation that has been experienced in Kamung’ei and Kabasis Villages in Ngata, Nakuru County, has seen the sinking of portions of land, flash floods seen through underground fissures which have caused the land to shift and subsequent development of fault lines. 

“Unajua sisi wenyewe kienye tunahofia hii barabara inaelekea Mercy Njeri hivi,huwezi juwa kama unaweza lala upate Nakuru imezama, inasitahili serikali wakuje wapime wangalie shida iko wapi,” Kennedy Rono added.

Security agencies and the local leadership have appealed to locals to heed advisories from agencies undertaking rescue measures to prevent further human casualties as a result.

The leadership also delivered aid to affected persons, who were displaced from their homes and who were without food, water and medical supplies.

“Iko fault line hapa, ukienda kwa hiyo shimo ya maji almost some meters iko mashimo kubwa sana zimechimbika hapo kama mbili ama tatu. Sasa hizo ndizo zimeleta shida kutoka hapo kwenda hivyo mpaka huko chini inaonekana iko fault line, hizo nyumba zimejengwa juu ya hiyo fault line ndiyo maana zinaendelea kusink,” Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama stated.

Nakuru West Sub County Commander Anderson Njage added: “My appeal is kwa wananchi Kuna wananchi wengi hapa wameathirika na hiyo fault line bado inasonga, so tunawaomba, tunawasihi kiamua muundoke because the area is unsafe, tafadhali tushirikiane so that we can save lives.”

The heavy rains which have led to the creation of fault lines, similarly led to the issuance of advisories by both state and non-state actors to locals in affected areas to be wary of the possible dangers that risk buildings and other infrastructure.