At least 13 people have been killed and several others are missing after a landslide tore through villages in western Kenya’s Rift Valley early Saturday morning, police said.
The disaster struck after hours of heavy rain soaked the steep hillsides of Elgeyo-Marakwet County, triggering a torrent of mud and debris that buried homes and swept away livestock.
Following heavy overnight rains that triggered a landslide and flash floods in Chesongoch, Kenya Red Cross teams — working in coordination with the National and County Governments — are conducting air evacuations for those injured.
Response efforts are ongoing to ensure affected families receive urgent humanitarian assistance, with emergency teams deployed to provide medical aid, shelter, and relief supplies.
County police commander Peter Mulinge told reporters that 19 people had been rescued so far, but many more were still unaccounted for. “The terrain is difficult, and access to the affected area is limited,” he said. “We are doing everything possible to find survivors.”
Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said military and police helicopters had been dispatched to support rescue operations and to evacuate the injured. “We are coordinating emergency response with county authorities and humanitarian agencies to assist affected families,” he said in a statement.
Local residents joined rescue efforts using shovels and makeshift tools, digging through thick mud as rain continued to fall intermittently. “We heard a loud rumbling sound and ran out,” said Mary Chebet, a resident of the nearby Kapsowar area. “Within minutes, everything was covered in mud. People were screaming for help.”
Landslides and flash floods have become increasingly common in Kenya’s highland regions, where deforestation and unplanned settlements have worsened the impact of extreme weather. Scientists have linked the rising frequency and intensity of such disasters to climate change.
In the past year alone, Kenya has experienced multiple deadly weather events. In one of the worst incidents in 2024, at least 61 people were killed when a mudslide and flash floods struck central Kenya.
Across the border in Uganda, at least 13 people were reported dead this week after heavy rains triggered another landslide in the country’s eastern region, according to the Uganda Red Cross.
As rescue efforts continue in Elgeyo-Marakwet, authorities have urged residents in landslide-prone areas to move to higher ground. “We appeal for calm and cooperation as teams work to save lives,” said Murkomen.
For many in the Rift Valley, however, the fear of more rain looms large. “The ground is still wet,” said Chebet. “We are afraid it could happen again.”
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Tragedy in Kenya 🇰🇪: At least 13 people have died in a landslide after heavy rains hit the Rift Valley. Rescue teams are racing to find survivors. 💔🌧️ #Kenya #Landslide #ClimateCrisis #RiftValley #BreakingNews
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