A major safety alert has been issued in Elgeyo Marakwet after landslides swept through several areas, cutting road access and claiming lives. With parts of the county now unsafe for travel, authorities are urging drivers to avoid risky routes as rescue teams continue working on the ground.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority cautioned that movement in certain zones remains dangerous due to unstable soil and blocked roads, creating challenges for emergency teams and residents still waiting for help.
In its notice, the roads agency appealed to motorists to follow the guidance given by security and disaster response officers stationed across affected corridors.
"Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes for the time being and comply with any directives from traffic officers and emergency personnel deployed on the roads to prevent further incidents," KeRRA Acting Director General J.K. Magondu said in a notice.
The Interior Ministry said lives have been lost, homes damaged and families displaced as heavy rain triggered landslides in the county. The impact has been felt across villages, with more people being located as search teams expand their operations.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen shared updated figures showing loss of life, injuries and missing persons, noting that emergency responders are racing against time to reach all affected locations.
According to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, 21 people have been killed, 30 remain missing, and 25 victims are admitted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
He explained that the state has already evacuated some of the injured and moved vulnerable households away from dangerous zones as more teams are deployed.
"We have managed to evacuate 25 injured people for further medical attention. Sadly, 15 people lost their lives in this unfortunate tragedy, while 30 people are still unaccounted for," he said.
Murkomen said the disaster response includes officers from various sectors working together in a coordinated effort to trace missing persons, offer medical support and secure high-risk locations.
He added that ongoing search and rescue efforts are being undertaken by a multi-agency team comprising the military, police, National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), the county government and humanitarian organisations.
The government has also opened a reporting centre to help families tracing loved ones while evacuation of those in danger-prone areas continues.
"We have moved households at risk of landslides to safer grounds and opened a desk for reporting missing persons," he said.
Residents have been reminded to cooperate with safety teams, remain alert, and avoid travelling through affected areas as the situation continues to unfold and weather conditions remain uncertain.
