At least 21 people were killed and 30 are missing after a landslide struck Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County following days of heavy rain. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed and 30 seriously injured survivors were airlifted to Eldoret for treatment. Rescue teams continue searching debris amid ongoing rain while authorities plan alternative settlements for the displaced.
Landslide in Western Kenya Kills 21, Leaves 30 Missing; Over 1,000 Homes Destroyed
At least 21 people were killed and 30 are missing after a landslide struck Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County following days of heavy rain. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed and 30 seriously injured survivors were airlifted to Eldoret for treatment. Rescue teams continue searching debris amid ongoing rain while authorities plan alternative settlements for the displaced.
11:47, 02.11.2025Environment
Landslide in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet Causes Heavy Loss of Life and Widespread Destruction
At least 21 people have been confirmed dead and another 30 are missing after a landslide struck the hilly Chesongoch area of Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya. The disaster followed days of persistent heavy rain during the country’s short rains season.
More than 1,000 homes were destroyed when mudslides swept through the steep terrain. Several roads were cut off, hampering access to the affected communities.
Authorities airlifted 30 survivors with serious injuries to a hospital in Eldoret. Rescue teams and disaster agencies continued searching the debris despite ongoing rain, as they looked for people still unaccounted for.
Local resident Stephen Kittony told Citizen Television he heard a deafening roar and fled his house with his children, while family members scattered in different directions.
The Chesongoch area has a known history of deadly landslides: separate incidents in 2010 and 2012 killed dozens, and violent floods washed away a shopping center in 2020. The pattern underscores the vulnerability of steep settlements to intense rain and soil instability.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government is working to identify alternative settlement areas for those displaced and to provide urgent relief to survivors.
Humanitarian needs and next steps: Immediate priorities include search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, temporary shelter and supplies for displaced families, and longer-term plans to relocate vulnerable communities from high-risk slopes.