The tragedy in Elgeyo Marakwet has deepened after another mudslide struck the Kibendo area in Keiyo South on Sunday night, adding to the mounting death toll that has already left families devastated.
Authorities confirmed that two more people had died, and several others were feared missing, following heavy rains that have pounded the region for days.
The continuous downpour has caused widespread destruction, with several villages now facing the threat of being completely buried under mud and rocks.
Governor Wisely Rotich confirmed the latest incident shortly after midnight through his social media accounts. He reported that the landslide had occurred as a result of unrelenting rainfall that has overwhelmed parts of the county.
Rotich assured residents that emergency services were already on-site and rescue operations had begun immediately.
He mentioned that the county disaster response team, the office of the area MP, and ambulances had been dispatched to the affected areas to help in saving lives and locating the missing.
In an update early Monday morning, Governor Rotich gave a somber account of what happened. He revealed that two people lost their lives after a massive rock rolled down the hillside and crashed into their home.
Several others sustained injuries and were quickly rushed to Iten County Referral Hospital by emergency teams and local residents. He thanked the area chief, health officers, and community members for their swift response, even as he acknowledged the pain of losing more lives in the same region.
At around the same time, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that its response teams were heading to Kibendo to support ongoing rescue and relief operations.
The organization has been actively involved in disaster management in the region since the first mudslides struck earlier in the week, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Red Cross officials said their main focus now is locating the missing people, offering first aid to survivors, and providing temporary shelter for displaced families.
Governor Rotich has continued to appeal to residents living near escarpments and steep slopes to move to safer areas immediately.
He warned that more mudslides are likely if the rains persist and urged everyone to follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities.
“I beg each one of us to listen. It’s extraordinary times and needs each of us to comply to save lives,” he stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
The latest disaster follows another deadly landslide that struck Chesongoch earlier on Sunday morning, claiming 26 lives.
By Sunday evening, reports indicated that 25 people were still missing, while 26 others remained hospitalized. The two back-to-back mudslides have left Elgeyo Marakwet County reeling from loss and destruction, with rescue teams now racing against time to find survivors and prevent further tragedies as the heavy rains continue.
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