“Night of Horror: Survivors Recount Elgeyo Marakwet Landslide That Claimed 30 Lives”

Victims of the Elgeyo Marakwet landslides are receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) as search and rescue efforts continue for those still missing under the rubble

The landslide, which struck Chesongoch village on Saturday night, has so far claimed 30 lives, with 19 people still unaccounted for. Survivors have shared chilling stories of the terrifying moments when rocks and torrents of mud swallowed their homes without warning

Margaret Kiptoo, one of the survivors, says she was in her house with her disabled son when disaster struck. Her son remains among the missing

“I heard some sounds and walked outside to check. I thought it was just water flowing down the river, so I went back to sleep,” she recalled. “Then rocks fell on me, and I could not see my child. Shortly after, my mouth was filled with mud and water”

Another survivor, Gabriel Yego, 89, said the community was caught off guard

“It was the first time I had seen such a thing. The water was a lot; it swept many people,” said Yego

Other villagers described fleeing in panic through rock-strewn terrain, racing against the roaring water and falling debris

Leaders, including Uasin Gishu County MP Gladys Boss Shollei, and former MPs Jackson Kiptanui and Linah Kilimo, have called for long-term interventions to address the recurring problem of landslides in the region.

Meanwhile, rescue teams are battling blocked access roads and difficult terrain, with the government deploying aerial support to assist in evacuation and delivery of medical aid

 Also read  : Kisumu Safari Train Set to Resume as Kenya Railways Nears Completion of Kijabe Line Restoration

The Ministry of Interior has warned that heavy rainfall will persist across several regions, heightening the risk of further landslides and floods, particularly in hilly and riverine zones

A multi-agency team comprising the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), the National Police Service, the Kenya Red Cross, and other humanitarian agencies continues to coordinate relief and rescue operations in Chesongoch

Writer : Mweru Mbugua