Heavy Rains Displace Over 1000 Turkana Squatters Baringo
They are part of 10,000 victims who fled from Turkana County due to banditry attacks back in 1960s
By JOSEPH KANGOGO
More than 1,000 starving Turkana squatters living in Katorongot slums in Mogotio, Baringo County have been rendered homeless due to heavy rains.
The victims fled fled bandit attacks decades ago in the volatile Kapedo, Napeitom, Lokori, Lomelo and Nadome-borders of Baringo and Turkana counties.
Photo/Mud-walled structure housing Turkana IDPs collapses due to heavy rains Mogotio, Baringo.
"We were forced to seek refuge in parts of Baringo, Nakuru, Trans-Nzoia, Laikipia and Uasin-Gishu counties," An elder Joseph Tetekori said Thursday morning.
Tetekori said authorities have abandoned them and were now facing myriad of challenges.
He told Rural Times News, due to ongoing rains their temporary mud-walled structures at Katorongot in Mogotio, Baringo have collapsed forcing them to stay outside in the cold.
"Since 1990s we have been staying here as squatters so we don't have anywhere to run to, we are appealing to urgently intervene and well-wishers to intervene and help us" Tetekori said.
Most affected being children, expectant women, elderly and people with disabilities.
Besides being rendered homeless, the starving and ailing victims are now appealing for foodstuff, tents and drugs, "before our people die of hunger and diseases."
They said of late they have not received any food handouts from the government, "the last relief food supply was back in the year 2007" he said.
Elsewhere in Marigat, Baringo South over 5000 Turkana squatters have got nowhere to go after being issued with eviction notices to vacate their shanties in Kampi Turkana near Marigat town, Perkerra sub-location.
Photo/Turkana squatters temporary structures collapse due to heavy rains Mogotio, Baringo
The land is earmarked for putting up a prison structure, mortuary, cemetery, public social hall and a dumpsite.
"We are facing government accusations that we encroached public land, but we don't have anywhere to run to" an elder Paulo Lowoi said.
He further said however much they struggle to educate their children, they are hardly considered for any public job opportunities in both the county and national governments.
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