ELGEYO MARAKWET, Kenya – The death toll from the Elgeyo Marakwet landslides has climbed to 30 after four more bodies were recovered on Monday, even as rescuers continue searching for dozens still missing.
Authorities said the bodies — one man and three women — were pulled from the rubble in Chesongoch, Marakwet East Constituency, following days of relentless rescue efforts.
The landslides, triggered by torrential rains on Friday, October 31, have left at least 20 people unaccounted for and displaced several families across the Kerio Valley region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday urged residents in the valley to heed early warnings and move to safer areas as heavy rains persist.
“We urge communities living along the escarpments and near riverbanks to relocate to higher grounds immediately. The rains are not subsiding,” Murkomen warned.
According to the Ministry of Interior, 19 survivors have been rescued so far, while several others are receiving treatment at Chesongoch Mission Hospital.
The government has deployed aerial support to aid ongoing evacuations and deliver medical supplies, as rescue teams struggle with impassable roads and blocked access routes.
Elsewhere, the heavy rains have caused widespread flooding and destruction in several counties, including Kisumu, Tana River, Garissa, Laikipia, and Mombasa.
Villages such as Dhuhush, Lebille, Bultobanta, and Bangale have been severely affected, with reports of submerged homes and damaged infrastructure.
The Interior Ministry has warned that the rains are expected to continue in the coming days, raising the risk of more floods and landslides, especially in hilly and riverine areas.
A multi-agency response team — including the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), the National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross — remains on the ground coordinating rescue and relief operations.
