Twenty-one people die in landslide in Kenya after heavy rain
(MENAFN) Authorities in Kenya have confirmed that at least 21 people died after a landslide struck the western region of the country following intense rainfall.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the victims’ bodies were transported to a nearby airstrip after the incident in Marakwet East late on Friday night. "Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway," he added, noting that "Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items."
Murkomen also reported that more than 30 individuals remain missing, while 25 people with serious injuries were airlifted for further medical treatment. Rescue operations, coordinated with the Kenyan Red Cross, have been hampered by mudslides and flash flooding, leaving some of the hardest-hit areas inaccessible by road.
The government temporarily paused search and rescue efforts on Saturday evening but confirmed that operations would resume on Sunday. Citizens living near seasonal rivers and in landslide-prone zones were urged to move to safer locations.
Kenya is currently in its second rainy season, which typically brings a few weeks of heavy rainfall, following a more extended wet period earlier in the year.
Across the border in Uganda, flash flooding and landslides have also caused fatalities since last Wednesday. The Uganda Red Cross reported that another mudslide hit Kapsomo village in the country’s east on Saturday, destroying a house and killing four residents.
Flooding has significantly impacted communities near riverbanks in Bulambuli District, with the River Astiri and River Sipi overflowing due to continuous heavy rains. The Red Cross said this has led to widespread destruction of homes, crop fields, and infrastructure in affected areas.
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