Heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide in Kenya’s western Rift Valley on Saturday, killing at least 21 people. Authorities reported that more than 30 residents remain missing as search and rescue operations continue. Torrential rains have pounded the region for days during Kenya’s short rain season, destroying over 1,000 homes in the hilly Chesongoch area of Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The force of the mudslide swept through villages, cutting off major roads and trapping families inside their homes. Government helicopters airlifted 30 severely injured survivors to a hospital in Eldoret City for urgent treatment.
Residents Describe the Night of Disaster
Local residents said they woke to a thunderous roar before the ground gave way. “We heard a deafening sound and ran in every direction,” one survivor said. Many escaped moments before their homes collapsed under the sliding earth.
Emergency crews continued to dig through the debris late into the night despite heavy rain and poor visibility. Disaster response teams and volunteers searched for missing people as families waited anxiously nearby, hoping for news of loved ones.
Government Plans Relocation and Relief
The Chesongoch hills have suffered repeated tragedies. Landslides in 2010 and 2012 killed dozens, while floods in 2020 destroyed a busy shopping center. Officials now warn that unstable slopes and relentless rains make the area increasingly dangerous.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the government will relocate displaced residents to safer ground. “We are identifying an alternative settlement area for all affected families,” he said. Relief teams continue to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance to survivors as Kenya faces one of its worst rain seasons in years.
