The government has warned residents living in landslide-prone areas to move to safer grounds as heavy rains continue to pound several parts of the country, following a deadly landslide that claimed one life and displaced hundreds in Gathugu village, Gitugi Ward in Murang’a .

The Wednesday night downpour triggered soil movement that swept through part of the village at around 1 a.m., burying a middle-aged man who was asleep inside his home. Local residents, together with members of the Murang’a County Disaster Response Committee, managed to retrieve the body from the debris after a coordinated rescue operation .

The landslide destroyed several houses within one homestead and flattened crops, with the disaster affecting an area stretching nearly one kilometre. Residents now fear that continued rainfall could expose more villages to similar tragedies unless urgent preventive measures are implemented .

Twenty-two counties on high alert

Speaking during a visit to assess the effects of the landslides, National Disaster Operations Centre Director David Samoei, a retired colonel, said the government is closely monitoring disasters caused by the ongoing rains and working on measures to prevent further destruction and loss of lives .

“We are concerned about the disaster situation in the country, especially the landslides being experienced here in Murang’a due to the ongoing rains. We have come to find out the causes and also look at preventive measures,” Colonel Samoei said .

The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast that heavy rainfall exceeding 20mm within 24 hours will continue from May 8 to May 14 across 22 counties, with intensity expected to peak between May 10 and May 13 .

The affected counties include Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Meru, Embu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Narok, Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, Migori, Homa Bay, and Siaya .

Recurring disaster haunts Gitugi residents

Murang’a County Commissioner Hassan Bule said the county has continued to experience recurring landslides during rain seasons, noting that six people died during a similar incident in the same location in 2024 .

The tragedy has revived painful memories among Gitugi Ward residents, where seven members of one family died in a similar landslide a year ago following heavy rains. The county commissioner noted that ongoing rains have caused destruction in several parts of Murang’a County, especially in Mathioya and Kangema sub-counties, where mudslides have damaged property and farms .

Government response and relocation efforts

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration confirmed that approximately 200 households in the Ngutu area of Gitugi Ward have been displaced and are set for relocation to safer grounds until the rains subside .

In neighboring Kiru Ward, officials said families were displaced and property destroyed in Gaikime, Kiagima Kiambuthia, Kagioini, and Kora areas. The landslides also flattened Kamagogo Full Gospel Church and destroyed farmland, livestock, and household goods. In Kamacharia Ward, at least one family was displaced in the Wahundura area .

Colonel Samoei revealed that since the onset of the long rains on March 6, at least 140 people have lost their lives nationally while about 6,000 households have been affected by floods and landslides across the country .

“Families affected by landslides will receive support from the government through the State Department for Special Programmes and other relevant agencies,” he said, noting that the rains are expected to continue for longer than usual .

Residents urged to stay vigilant

Authorities are appealing to residents to remain alert and report any signs of soil movement, cracks on the ground, or weakened structures to local administrators and disaster management teams .

Mr Bule urged residents living in high-risk areas to seek safer shelter to avoid further deaths and destruction, emphasising that human life is more important than property .

The government has mapped landslide-prone regions, particularly along the slopes of the Aberdare Range, Mount Kenya, and other hilly areas, as high-risk zones requiring extreme caution during the ongoing rains. Residents have been advised to also avoid crossing flooded roads or walking through moving water and to refrain from sheltering under trees or near grilled windows due to the risk of lightning strikes.