Landslides in Kenya’s Rift Valley Kill 21, Leave Dozens Missing After Heavy Rains

At least 21 people have been killed and 30 others remain missing after heavy rains triggered massive landslides in Kenya’s Rift Valley, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The disaster struck Elgeyo-Marakwet County, in the hilly area of Chesongoch village, following continuous rainfall that caused flash flooding and mudslides stretching across large areas.

Rescue and Relief Efforts Underway

Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said on X (formerly Twitter) that 25 people with serious injuries were airlifted to Eldoret for medical treatment.

“Preparations to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims are underway. Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items,” Murkomen stated.

He added that rescue operations, involving the Kenya Red Cross, military, and police units, would continue through Sunday, as teams search for survivors and retrieve bodies buried under mud and debris.

Eyewitness Accounts

Residents described terrifying scenes as the landslide swept through villages overnight.

Stephen Kittony, a local resident, told Citizen Television that he and his children ran in different directions after hearing a deafening roar outside their home.

“We heard a huge sound like thunder, and within seconds, the ground was moving. We just ran,” he said.

Widespread Damage and Difficult Conditions

According to officials, more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed, displacing hundreds of families. The Kenya Red Cross said access to affected areas remains extremely difficult due to blocked roads and flooding.

Aerial footage shared by the Red Cross showed massive swathes of mud and floodwaters covering farmland and villages.

“We are coordinating rescue operations with government agencies, including air evacuations for the injured,” the organization said in a statement.

Heavy rains have pounded western Kenya over the past week as part of the country’s short rainy season, which typically lasts from October to December but has intensified this year due to changing climate patterns.

Government Response and Warnings

Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone and hilly regions to relocate to safer areas as weather forecasts predict more rain in the coming days.

Disaster management officials have also deployed relief supplies and temporary shelters in nearby towns, while local hospitals in Eldoret are treating survivors for injuries ranging from fractures to hypothermia.

Regional Context

Kenya and several neighboring East African countries have been facing extreme weather events in recent months, including floods, droughts, and landslides linked to the El Niño phenomenon.

Meteorologists warn that continued heavy rainfall could lead to further flooding and displacement across western and central Kenya.