National government in has warned residents living in landslide-prone areas in Murang’a County in central Kenya to move to safer grounds as heavy rains continue to pound several parts of the country.

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

Samoei, a retired colonel, said the team visited Murang’a to establish the causes of the landslides and identify ways of preventing similar disasters in future.

On Wednesday night, a heavy downpour triggered a landslide at Gathugu village in Gitugi location claiming the life of one person and leaving a trail of destruction.

“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,” Col Samoei said.

He warned that the rains are expected to continue for longer than usual and urged members of the public to take precautionary measures and relocate from dangerous locations.

“The rains will continue in large amounts and may prolong for periods more than usual. We are urging the public to secure themselves and move to places where they are safe to avoid the loss of lives,” he said.

The disaster centre director also warned residents in other parts of the country, including the Lake Basin Region and Narok to remain vigilant due to the risk of flooding following the swelling and possible breaking of River Tana banks.

He further encouraged Kenyans to use the government’s toll-free emergency contacts whenever disaster strikes to send out alerts for assistance.

“In case of any emergency or disaster, the public should use the toll-free contacts provided by the government so that help can reach them quickly,” he said.

Samoei noted that families affected by landslides will receive support from the government through the State Department for Special Programmes and other relevant agencies. He 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.

“Nationally, since the rains started on March 6, we have lost about 140 people and nearly 6,000 households have been affected. We are working with other ministries and agencies to help settle affected families and those living in high-risk areas,” he said.

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.

“This is not a new occurrence in Murang’a. Last year we lost around six people due to landslides, and we do not want to witness such tragedies again,” Bule said.

He urged residents living in high-risk areas to seek safer shelter to avoid further deaths and destruction.

“We are urging the public to remain alert and move to safer places because human life is more important than property,” he added.

Bule also called upon the media and other stakeholders to intensify public awareness campaigns on disaster preparedness and response.

“The media and stakeholders have a major role in creating awareness and educating the public on how to stay safe during disasters,” he said.

Murang’a County Coordinator for the Kenya Red Cross Malcolm Kanyoko assured affected families that the humanitarian organisation is ready to support rescue and relief efforts.

“As the Kenya Red Cross, we are available to save lives, rescue affected families and provide humanitarian support to those in need,” Kanyoko said.

He appealed to community members and stakeholders to support affected families through donations of food, clothing and other essential supplies.

“We are urging well-wishers, community leadership and stakeholders to donate whatever they can to support families affected by the landslides,” he added.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Bernard Munyao