The government has ordered squatters living in Gomongo area of Gilgil to move out after a huge rock crashed into a house, seriously injuring the occupants.

A woman and her husband and son escaped death narrowly after the boulder from the nearby hills crashed into the roof of their house as they slept. Gilgil DC Elmi Shaffi said the area is a danger zone and people were residing there illegally.

He said the land belonged to the National Youth Services and the residents' allotment letters were illegal. "The area is very dangerous due to the boulders on the hill and you have to move out before the government moves in to demolish the houses." The family said they were woken up by a loud bang. "I woke up to find the house in darkness. My child and wife were screaming and I had to rescue them," Zachariah Makori said.

Makori, who received head and chest injuries, said he bought the land from the council in 1996 and had an allotment letter. He said he paid land rates every year. "Three of us were injured and we went to hospital for treatment and later slept in the open as the house was completely destroyed," his wife said.