John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
At least 22 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 30 others are missing after a massive mudslide swept through villages in Marakwet East Constituency, western Kenya, following days of heavy rain.
The disaster struck in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, in Chesongoch village, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Torrential rainfall triggered flash floods and mudslides that buried homes, cut off roads, and left hundreds of families displaced.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelGovernment spokesman Isaac Mwaura said during a press briefing on Sunday that 22 bodies had been recovered and evacuated to Eldoret, while 21 survivors — including 14 adults and 7 children — are being treated at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). Two critically injured victims were airlifted to the facility for advanced care.
“It is with a heavy heart that we address you today, as the onset of the short rains has brought devastating floods,” Mwaura said. “The Government shares in your grief and stands with you during this painful time.”
A large-scale rescue and recovery operation is under way, involving the Kenyan military, police, the National Youth Service, the Kenya Red Cross Society, and several humanitarian organizations. Four military helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft have been deployed to airlift victims and deliver supplies, while Red Cross teams are using drones and GIS mapping to trace survivors and assess the affected sites.
Blocked roads and poor visibility have slowed access to some of the hardest-hit villages. Authorities say 29 people remain unaccounted for as teams continue digging through mud and debris.
The State Department of Special Programmes has dispatched emergency food and relief items to displaced families, and county governments have mobilized ambulances, medical staff, and heavy machinery to reopen roads and support local hospitals.
The tragedy has disrupted Kenya’s national examinations, which began last week. The Ministry of Education said it is airlifting exam papers to affected schools to ensure continuity, and one injured student will sit their exams from hospital.
Elgeyo Marakwet County, located along Kenya’s Rift Valley escarpment, is one of the country’s most landslide-prone areas. The region has suffered similar disasters in previous years, including fatal slides in 2010 and 2012. Experts say increasingly erratic weather linked to climate change has intensified the risk of floods and landslides across East Africa.
Meteorologists warn that Kenya’s short rains season, which typically runs from October to December, has become more unpredictable and destructive. Authorities have urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to move to higher ground as the rains continue.
“The Government is fully committed to supporting the affected communities and families and is working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents,” Mwaura said.
Rescue teams are expected to continue operations through the week as officials assess the full scale of destruction. Early estimates suggest that more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.
