Frontier Eye Desk
Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet.
The death toll from a massive landslide in Chesongoch and nearby villages in Elgeyo Marakwet County has risen to 21, authorities said Saturday, as rescue teams struggle through heavy rains and unstable terrain in search of survivors.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said six more bodies were recovered overnight, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 21. Dozens of people remain missing following the Friday morning disaster, which struck after days of intense rainfall.
“The search for survivors and remains is our utmost priority, but the ongoing rains are making every step a battle,” Murkomen said at the scene, as helicopters ferried the injured to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Acting County Commissioner Julius Maiyo said 17 bodies had been retrieved — eight from Murkutwa village and nine from Embobut — while more than 40 people are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams comprising the Kenya Red Cross, KDF, and local volunteers are navigating blocked roads and shifting mud in Endo, Sambirir, and Embobut wards.
The Kenya Red Cross reported that over 30 injured survivors have been evacuated by air and road, many with fractures and crush injuries. Temporary clinics and emergency shelters have been established across the affected areas.
Governor Wisley Rotich described the scene as “unimaginable devastation,” saying homes and farmlands had been wiped out. Ambulances and medical staff from neighboring counties have been mobilized to support local efforts.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has declared all major roads in Marakwet East impassable due to flooding and landslides, urging motorists to avoid escarpment routes.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga said helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft had been deployed for evacuations and supply drops, warning that heavy rains are expected to persist across much of Kenya.
“Citizens in vulnerable areas must relocate immediately to mitigate further tragedy,” she said, calling for sustainable land-use practices to reduce disaster risk.
The landslide revives memories of the 2021 Chesegon tragedy, which killed more than 50 people and highlighted the Kerio Valley’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters. Local leaders have urged investment in early warning systems and relocation programs for high-risk communities.
Rescue teams plan to continue the search overnight with the help of floodlights and drones as rain continues to fall.