Rescue teams are racing against worsening weather and unstable ground in Marakwet East, where a landslide has left families grieving and many others still waiting for word on loved ones. Authorities say the situation remains delicate as more rain threatens already weakened hillsides.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday confirmed that 15 people have been found dead, while 30 residents remain unaccounted for. He said 25 survivors who had sustained injuries have been taken to medical facilities after being evacuated from the disaster zone.
He explained that national and county responders, the military, police, and humanitarian groups are working together in round-the-clock operations.
“A multi-agency team comprising the military, police, national government officers, the county government, and humanitarian organisations is undertaking ongoing search and rescue operations,” Murkomen said on Saturday.
The landslide was triggered by persistent heavy rains that have been sweeping across the country, causing destruction in several counties. In Marakwet East, the hardest hit areas are Endo, Sambirir, and Embobut Wards, where homes were buried and vital infrastructure was cut off.
Teams have already moved families living in high-risk zones to safer areas as officials carry out assessments to prevent further casualties. A help desk has also been established to record details of missing people and guide worried families seeking information.
In his message of sympathy, Murkomen noted the scale of loss and disruption.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Endo, Sambirir, and Embobut Wards in Marakwet East Constituency following the devastating landslide that has led to the loss of lives and property, as well as the destruction of infrastructure, including the road network,” he stated.
Emergency aircraft from the police and the military have been sent to support the response, together with medical staff and Red Cross personnel. Evacuations, delivery of emergency supplies, and aerial monitoring continue as roads leading into the region remain damaged and impassable.
“We are working with the County Government and non-state actors to respond to this unfortunate incident and provide the necessary support to the affected families,” Murkomen added, saying the priority is locating those still missing and providing shelter and care to survivors.
Engineers and security teams are scouting for safe land routes to clear and reopen, and machinery is being prepared to begin road restoration once conditions allow. With the region heavily flooded and slopes unstable, responders say they are working carefully to avoid further danger.
Experts note that landslides involve the movement of rock and soil, and mudslides are a form of landslide caused when saturated ground turns into fast-moving mud and debris after intense rainfall.
International disaster bodies warn that landslides can occur in many settings worldwide, especially after prolonged rain.
As rain continues to fall in the region, response teams remain on high alert, and families wait anxiously for updates as the search for those still missing carries on.
