Ongoing heavy rains that are pounding parts of central Kenya that are landslide-prone have stoked fears of past bad memories of a recurrence of the nightmare after three acres of cropland were swept away of Tuesday and 10 families rendered homeless.

This is just Six weeks into the long rains season, which Embu County Commissioner Jack Obuo, has cautioned is set to wreak havoc in Mt Kenya region and adjoining areas. Mr Obuo has appealed to locals take early precautions to avoid a looming humanitarian crisis.

The warning follows a landslide that cut off over three acres of farmland in Kamutungi Village in Embu West Sub-County last week leading to destruction of livelihoods of over 10 families. No injuries were reported during the early morning incident that left opened a 10-foot deep gulley as land surface stretching over 500 metres was washed away into River Ena.

The landslide washed away crops that included arrowroots, miraa (qat) bushes, trees, beehives, bananas, sugarcane. Also affected was government land that served as water intake for Embu-Mbeere in 1970′ before it was moved up River Ena, where pumps and water pipes were also destroyed.

The county commissioner called on residents to desist from carrying out any farming activity pending a thorough risk assessment.

“We have cordoned off the area until the situation is addressed,” he said of flooding in the county.

He also reported that the County Disaster Management Committee was assessing the impact of the ongoing heavy rains and discussing possible evacuation plans for communities in landslide-prone areas.

One of the affected residents Joshua Kinyua said the landslide had left them helpless as the crops they depend on were washed away.

“We are asking the government to assist us get on our feet again,” he pleaded.

He also said that residents live in fear as other parts of the area are developing fissures.

Meanwhile, the county commissioner reported that they are also monitoring the situation at the Seven Forks Dam that is fast filling up.

“Our teams are on the ground to get real time data on the dam situation and dissemination of the same information to relevant authorities in the county,” he reported.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By  Samuel Waititu