Kenya: At least 26 people have been killed after heavy rains triggered landslides in Kenya’s western Rift Valley, sweeping away homes and cutting off entire communities.
Officials confirmed that more than 1,000 houses were destroyed in Elgeyo-Marakwet County as mud and debris crashed down the hillsides late Friday night.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said 25 seriously injured survivors were airlifted to Eldoret for urgent medical care. Another 30 people remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could rise sharply as search efforts continue.
DAY 2 UPDATE ON THE MARAKWET EAST LANDSLIDE DISASTER
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with the death toll now standing at 26 following the recovery of more bodies today. 25 people are still unaccounted for, while 26 are hospitalised.
Endo Ward bore the brunt of the… pic.twitter.com/GpQbjr5sEo
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) November 2, 2025
Authorities say rescue operations will resume with military and police support. Helicopters remain on standby to deliver emergency supplies and evacuate more victims from areas unreachable by road. Relief food and essential aid are being mobilised for displaced families.
The Kenyan Red Cross shared aerial images showing vast stretches of mudslides and flash floods cutting through the region. The organisation said it is working closely with government agencies, but access remains a major challenge, with many roads blocked or washed away by floodwaters.
Aerial views show the extent of destruction in Chesongoch after heavy overnight rains triggered a landslide and flash floods.
Kenya Red Cross teams, working with the National and County Governments, are coordinating rescue and relief efforts, including air evacuations for the… pic.twitter.com/SrVmFYF5fr
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) November 1, 2025
Chesongoch and the surrounding areas have a tragic history of deadly landslides. Dozens of people were killed in similar incidents in 2010 and 2012, and a shopping centre was swept away by floods in 2020. The latest disaster comes during Kenya’s short rainy season, which has brought intense downpours across parts of the country.
Emergency crews say they are racing against time and difficult terrain to reach survivors, many of whom may still be trapped under debris or stranded in isolated villages. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable hillside zones to relocate to safer ground as more rains are expected in the coming days.
