The Kenyan government has confirmed that 21 people have died following a landslide in the western part of the country after heavy rainfall.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen reported that the bodies had been transferred to a nearby airstrip after the landslide in Marakwet East late on Friday night.
More than 30 people are still unaccounted for after being reported missing by their families, while 25 individuals with serious injuries were airlifted to receive emergency medical attention.
The Kenyan Red Cross, involved in coordinating rescue efforts, mentioned that the most affected areas are still not accessible due to mudslides and flash flooding.
Rescue operations were paused on Saturday evening but are set to resume on Sunday. “Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway,” Murkomen stated, adding that military and police helicopters are on standby for transporting the supplies.
Kenya is currently experiencing its second rainy season, which usually brings a few weeks of wet weather, contrasting with the more extensive and intense rainfall experienced earlier in the year.
The government has advised residents near seasonal rivers and landslide-prone areas to seek safer location.
In Uganda, bordering Kenya, heavy rain has also resulted in flash flooding and landslides, leading to numerous fatalities since last Wednesday. The Uganda Red Cross reported that a mudslide in the Kapsomo village destroyed a house and killed four occupants.
Severe flooding continues to impact villages near riverbanks in the Bulambuli District of Uganda, as persistent rain has caused rivers to overflow, resulting in widespread destruction of homes, crop fields, and community infrastructure.
