Hundreds Rendered Homeless as Massive Rift Valley Split Line Extends to Naivasha

Residents of Moi Ndabi in Naivasha are now living in fear after the massive Rift Valley fault line reported in Mai Mahiu weeks ago extended to the region.

Following heavy downpour in the last few days, the earth split has continued to extend day by day, cutting off roads and sinking some of the houses on its way.

Moi Ndabi Ward MCA Kamanu Gathariki said many homes and farms located between Kipkonyo Primary School and Tangi Tatu village have sunk, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

“The fault line is literally swallowing up farms and roads. Several houses could go the same way if the ongoing rains continue,” Gathariki told the Star.

 “Currently, all the major roads in this ward are impassable due to the rains. The situation has been made worse by the developing fault line,” he said.

The 2km fault line was first witnessed at Suswa area along the Narok-Mai Mahiu highway about a month ago. Authorities have asked locals to shift to safer grounds as deep fissures continue to form as the rains persist.

Naivasha deputy sub-county commissioner Joseph Opondo said government will help the affected families.

“There is a fault line developing in Moi Ndabi and we are working with the county government to assist the affected families,” said Opondo.

“The ongoing rains have left a trail of destruction in this area and this could worsen in the coming days.”

Last month, a geologist said the fissures marked the beginning of a massive Rift Valley split that could lead to the formation of a new continent. The tear is deep-upto 50 meters and 20 meters wide.

He further pointed out that Kenya, Somali, Tanzania and half of Ethiopia could breakaway from African in millions of years to come and form a new continent dubbed the Somali Plate.

Speaking to Daily Nation, Geologist David Adede said: “The valley has a history of tectonic and volcanic activities.”

“Whereas the rift has remained tectonically inactive in the recent past, there could be movements deep within the Earth’s crust that have resulted in zones of weakness extending all the way to the surface,” he said.

Adede added: “You cannot stop a geological process because it occurs from deep within the crust of the Earth.”