CHESONGOCH, ELGEYO MARAKWET – Thirty-one victims of the devastating landslides that struck Elgeyo Marakwet County on November 1 and 2, 2025, were laid to rest on Friday, November 21, in a solemn mass funeral in Chesongoch. The ceremony, officiated by Catholic Bishop of Eldoret Diocese, Dominic Kimengich, highlighted the profound grief of a community shattered by a tragedy that claimed a total of 41 lives. The event drew national leaders, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who reiterated the government's commitment to supporting the survivors and relocating families from perilous zones.

The landslide, triggered by torrential rainfall, swept through several villages, including Chesongoch, Murkutwo, Embobut, and Sambirir, leaving a trail of destruction and displacing hundreds of families. Initial reports on November 2 confirmed at least 25 fatalities, with dozens missing. By November 8, the death toll had tragically risen to 37, with 11 people still unaccounted for, as confirmed by CS Murkomen. The search and rescue operations were extensive, involving a multi-agency team of military, police, and humanitarian organizations like the Kenya Red Cross.

Government Pledges and a History of Warnings

Representing President William Ruto, CS Murkomen assured the bereaved families of the government's unwavering support. He stated that the President had directed the expedited delivery of all necessary aid, including psychosocial support, relocation efforts, and long-term resettlement on geologically stable land. “The President has directed us to expedite all the necessary support due to the affected families, and we will implement this to the letter,” Murkomen affirmed on Friday, November 21. He also issued a stern warning against corruption, directing the County Commissioner to ensure transparent management of all government and donor aid through verified beneficiary lists.

The government's response in the immediate aftermath included the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and police helicopters to airlift the injured to hospitals and deliver essential supplies. Displaced residents found temporary shelter at locations such as Chesongoch Primary School. However, this disaster was not unforeseen. Geologists and environmental agencies have for years warned that the Elgeyo Escarpment is a high-risk zone, prone to landslides due to its steep slopes, loose volcanic soils, and the compounding effects of climate change and human activity. Widespread deforestation for settlement and farming has severely destabilized the terrain, a fact acknowledged by CS Murkomen himself. The region has a tragic history of similar events, with fatal landslides recorded in previous years, including 2020.

Calls for Resettlement and Long-Term Solutions

The mass burial, held at St. Maurus Academy, became a focal point for renewed, urgent calls from local leaders and residents for a permanent solution. Many families had to agree to the communal burial because their own land and homesteads were completely swept away, leaving no place to inter their loved ones. Bishop Kimengich noted that historical insecurity from banditry had forced many communities to settle on the dangerous, uninhabitable escarpments for safety. With improved security in the Kerio Valley, leaders are now pressing the government to prioritize resettling these vulnerable populations.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang and his Uasin Gishu counterpart Jackson Mandago echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the cycle of disaster must be broken through decisive government action on relocation. The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) described the tragedy as a “wake-up call,” pointing to gaps in national disaster preparedness and urging for the strict enforcement of land-use regulations and the mapping of all landslide-prone areas. As the community mourns, the focus shifts to the government's promise to not only rebuild lives but also to implement lasting strategies that prevent such a catastrophe from recurring in this vulnerable region of Kenya.