Heavy rains triggered massive mudslides that destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Kenya’s western Rift Valley. Authorities confirmed that at least 21 people have died and over 30 remain missing after the disaster struck the hilly Chesongoch area in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday.
Torrential downpours have pounded the region for days during Kenya’s short rain season, causing widespread flooding and destruction. Officials said the landslide tore through villages, burying homes and farmland under thick layers of mud.
Government Mobilizes Emergency Response
The government deployed rescue teams and emergency services immediately after the landslide hit. Military helicopters airlifted 30 survivors with severe injuries to a hospital in Eldoret City. Several roads remain impassable due to debris and flooding, making ground access difficult for rescuers.
Local residents described hearing a deafening roar before the hillside gave way. Many rushed from their homes in panic, scattering in all directions as mud engulfed the area. Despite continuing rainfall, rescue teams worked through the night, digging through rubble to find missing residents.
Officials Plan Relocation for Survivors
Authorities confirmed that Chesongoch has a long history of deadly landslides. Previous disasters killed dozens in 2010 and 2012, while floods destroyed a shopping center in 2020.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government will relocate survivors to safer ground. “We are identifying new settlement areas for the affected families,” he stated.
Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage as rain hampers progress. Officials have urged residents in high-risk zones to evacuate immediately while emergency shelters prepare to host displaced families.
