Elgeyo-Marakwet (KAAB TV) – Members of the Kenya Red Cross Society have airlifted survivors following a devastating landslide that struck Murkutwa village in Chesongoch, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, in western Kenya’s Rift Valley region.
The disaster, triggered by intense overnight rainfall, has so far claimed at least 21 lives, displaced hundreds of families, and destroyed more than 1,000 homes, according to government officials.
The Cabinet Secretary for the Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, confirmed the figures in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
He said that at least 25 people suffering from serious injuries had been airlifted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for urgent medical treatment.
Authorities have also reported that around 30 individuals remain missing, and search and rescue operations are continuing.
“Rescue and recovery efforts will resume at first light on Sunday with support from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service,” Murkomen stated.
“Preparations are underway to deliver additional food and non-food relief items to affected families. Military and police helicopters are on standby to transport the supplies,” he added.
The landslide occurred late Friday night after hours of heavy rainfall saturated the steep slopes of the Kerio Valley escarpment, causing massive soil movement that buried several homes and cut off road access to the area.
The short rainy season, which typically runs from October to December, has been particularly severe this year, leading to flash floods and landslides across parts of the western and central highlands.
Local residents described scenes of panic as the ground gave way. Stephen Kittony, a survivor from Chesongoch, told Citizen Television that he was awakened by a “deafening rumble” before the hillside collapsed.
“I grabbed my children and we ran in different directions. When I looked back, our house had already been covered by mud,” he said.
The Kenya Red Cross released aerial photographs showing vast swathes of mud and debris stretching across the valley floor, with floodwaters submerging roads and farmlands.
The organization said it was coordinating closely with government agencies to conduct evacuations and provide emergency shelter, food, and medical supplies to displaced families.
“Access to some of the affected areas remains extremely difficult due to flooding, mud, and blocked routes,” the Red Cross said in a statement posted on X. “Our teams are working tirelessly to reach survivors and deliver critical assistance.”
Elgeyo-Marakwet County’s rugged terrain has long been vulnerable to landslides and flash floods. Similar disasters have occurred in the past: in 2010 and 2012, landslides in the same region killed dozens, while in 2020, flash floods swept away part of a shopping centre in Chesongoch.
Experts have attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of such events to deforestation, soil erosion, and changing rainfall patterns linked to climate change.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that continued heavy rains are expected in the coming days, heightening the risk of additional flooding and landslides in western and central Kenya.
Authorities have urged residents living along riverbanks and steep slopes to relocate to safer areas as rescue teams continue to search for survivors and assess the full extent of the damage.