Heavy rains triggered powerful mudslides in Kenya’s western Rift Valley, destroying more than 1,000 homes. Authorities confirmed that at least 21 people died and more than 30 remain missing after the landslide struck the hilly Chesongoch area in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday.
The region has endured relentless downpours during Kenya’s short rain season, turning slopes unstable and deadly. The government reported that several major roads are now impassable, isolating nearby communities.
Rescue Teams Battle Harsh Weather
Emergency teams continued search and rescue operations through Saturday despite ongoing heavy rainfall. Disaster response agencies worked through the night, combing through piles of debris from collapsed homes to locate survivors.
Officials said 30 people with severe injuries were airlifted to a hospital in Eldoret City. Witnesses described hearing a thunderous roar before the landslide swept through the area, forcing families to flee their homes in panic. “We heard the mountain crack,” one resident said. “Everyone ran in different directions to survive.”
Government Plans Relief and Resettlement
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the government will relocate survivors to safer ground. “We are identifying new settlement areas for affected families,” he said.
Chesongoch’s steep terrain has long faced landslide risks. Similar disasters killed dozens in 2010 and 2012, while floods destroyed a local shopping center in 2020. Officials now warn that continued rainfall could trigger further mudslides unless emergency measures are expanded.
Rescue teams remain on-site as Kenya confronts one of its most destructive weather-related tragedies in recent years.
