Residents of Kamung’ei in Ngata are raising concerns after a fissure that first appeared in May 2024 reopened last week following heavy rains. The crack, which runs dangerously close to the Nakuru–Eldoret Highway, has already cut into a service lane, sparking fears of potential damage to homes and even the busy road itself.

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, local resident Duke Ondieki said that the fissure has left the community feeling uneasy, particularly due to its proximity to their homes.

“Seeing that this place has opened up again raises concerns about our safety. When a heavy truck passes, you can see the ground gradually giving way. We want the relevant authorities to come and address this,” he says.

Mr Ondieki noted that the fissure had been filled in last year, but had re-emerged, which he attributes to poor management of surface runoff following the expansion of the highway.

Duke Ondieki, a resident of Kamung’ei in Ngata, laments the lack of action taken to address the reopened fissure, which poses a threat to nearby residents.

Photo credit: Purity Kinuthia/Mtaa Wangu

“With the current rains, we fear the fissure might expand further and reach our homes or even the highway, causing property damage and tragedy,” he says.

Johnstone Sande, a resident who worked as a casual labourer during the road expansion, expressed his frustration that the promised drainage works were never completed on the side where the fissure has developed.

"This has affected the service lane, which is our route home. If the fissure widens, we will have no choice but to walk on the side of the highway, which is dangerous due to the speeding cars. People also fear walking here in case the land caves in,” Mr Sande says.

Johnstone Sande, a resident of Ngata, lamented how unmanaged surface runoff has resulted in the formation of a fissure, which poses a threat to community members using the route home.

Photo credit: Purity Kinuthia/Mtaa Wangu

Mr Sande urged the county government, through the Department of Disaster Management and the Department of Transport, as well as the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha), to intervene urgently.

“Let’s have proper drainage here. Let the contractor come back and finish his work. A well-tarmacked road would also be ideal," he says.

A senior KeNHA official confirmed that the issue had not yet been officially reported to them, but assured residents that a team would be sent out to assess the situation.

A fissure which re-emerged at Kamung’ei, Ngata on September 30, 2025 residents fear it is expanding too close to the Nakuru -Eldoret highway and that it has already affected the service road.

Photo credit: Purity Kinuthia/Mtaa Wangu

“The matter has not yet been brought to our attention. However, we will be sending officers to the location to assess the situation and take appropriate action,” the official said.

Residents are calling for swift action due to the recurrence of the fissure, fearing that continued rainfall could worsen the situation without proper drainage and repair works, threatening both lives and infrastructure.

Residents raise alarm as fissure reopens in Ngata

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Purity Kinuthia