Landslide sweeps away tea farms in Murang’a County

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 4 Dec, 2019 16:04 | 2 mins read
tea bushes
Part of a tea farm in Murarandia Division of Murang’a County destroyed by a landslide. PHOTO | BERNARD MUNYAO | KNA
Part of a tea farm in Murarandia Division of Murang’a County destroyed by a landslide. PHOTO | BERNARD MUNYAO | KNA

Several farmers in Murang’a County are counting losses after their tea farms were destroyed by landslides occasioned by heavy rains.

In Murarandia in Kahuro Sub County, more than 2, 000 bushes of tea were last night swept away by landslide.

The 3am incident affected several farms with the bushes being swept to River Muriuriu leaving behind a huge gully.

Residents said that they heard a huge bang in the wee hours of the morning, only to find part of their farms swept away by the landslide.

David Macharia, a local resident, said they have had to from their homes to safer areas.

“More than four farms were destroyed by the landslide as tea bushes were swept away to a nearby river. We are living in fear as the area looks dangerous and another landslide may strike,” said Macharia.

The Assistant County Commissioner, Patrick Wasonga, said that the area is not safe.

Wasonga said the Muranga County security team was on the ground to assess the destruction and advice locals accordingly.

“We are monitoring the area and mapping out risky areas as we tell people to move to safe areas until rains in this region subside,” said the administrator.

Speaking to KNA on phone, Murang’a County Meteorological Director, Paul Murage, said most parts of the upper zones of Murang’a have received more than 1, 000 millimeters of rains since November and with the soils in the region being completely saturated, anything small may trigger a landslide.

He said the rains would continue in many parts of the county and cautioned residents who live in landslide -prone areas to move to safer grounds.

From last month, several areas in the county experienced landslides leaving trails of property destructions.

Mathioya Sub County has been worst hit by landslide during the ongoing rains as tea farmers, houses and a school have been affected.

Some roads have also been blocked by landslide debris paralyzing transport with motorists forced to find alternative routes.