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21 Confirmed Dead in Kenya Landslide as Rescue Efforts Resume
At least 21 people have died after a landslide struck western Kenya late Friday, with more than 30 others still missing, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed Sunday. The disaster occurred in Marakwet East, where heavy rainfall triggered mudslides that buried homes and cut off roads.
Murkomen stated on X that the recovered bodies had been transported to a nearby airstrip, while 25 critically injured survivors were airlifted for emergency medical care. Search operations, temporarily halted Saturday evening due to hazardous conditions, were set to resume Sunday morning.
Rescue Challenges and Relief Efforts
The Kenyan Red Cross reported that mudslides and flash flooding had rendered the worst-hit areas inaccessible by road, complicating rescue missions. Military and police helicopters remain on standby to deliver food, medical supplies, and other relief aid, according to Murkomen.
"Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway," the minister said, emphasizing the urgency of reaching stranded communities.
Wider Regional Impact as Uganda Faces Similar Crisis
The disaster coincides with Kenya's second rainy season, which typically brings shorter but intense downpours compared to the longer wet period earlier in the year. Authorities have warned residents near seasonal rivers and landslide-prone zones to evacuate to higher ground.
Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda has also grappled with deadly flooding since Wednesday. The Uganda Red Cross confirmed Saturday that a mudslide in Kapsomo village, eastern Uganda, demolished a home and killed four occupants. In Bulambuli District, overflowing rivers-including the Astiri and Sipi-have destroyed homes, farmland, and infrastructure, displacing dozens.
"Continuous heavy rainfall has caused rivers to overflow, resulting in widespread destruction of homes, crop fields, and community infrastructure."
Uganda Red Cross
Climate and Preparedness Concerns
The back-to-back disasters underscore the vulnerability of East African nations to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change. Both Kenya and Uganda have activated emergency response teams, but officials warn that persistent rains could trigger further landslides and flooding in the coming days.
