NAIROBI, Kenya – A parliamentary committee has issued an urgent call for accelerated humanitarian intervention as relentless rains trigger catastrophic floods and landslides across Kenya, resulting in at least 34 fatalities and the displacement of hundreds of families. The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Regional Development, addressing the media at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, underscored the dire situation in multiple counties and pushed for long-term solutions to bolster the nation's climate resilience.

Committee Chairperson Peter Lochakapong, the MP for Sigor, detailed the widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land. The most severely impacted areas include Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County, which suffered a devastating landslide over the weekend, along with Kimende Escarpment in Kiambu, Kamutungi in Embu, Tinderet in Nandi, and Narok South. Further flood emergencies have been reported in Tana River, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia, and the Lake Basin region, where rivers like the Sabwani have burst their banks, submerging entire villages.

The death toll from the landslide in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet, which occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, has reportedly risen to 26, with 25 people still missing, according to government officials. Rescue operations, led by a multi-agency team including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Kenya Red Cross, have been hampered by ongoing rains and flash floods that have washed away roads and rendered many areas inaccessible. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who visited the affected area, confirmed the government would cover medical bills for the more than 30 people injured and resettle those who lost their homes.

A Call for Legislative Action and Preparedness

The committee emphasized that Parliament is in the final stages of enacting the Disaster Risk Management Bill, 2023. This crucial legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. According to a parliamentary report from July 2025, the bill will create a National Disaster Risk Management Authority and corresponding county-level committees to coordinate efforts. It also provides for the establishment of a Disaster Risk Management Fund to finance prevention and mitigation measures and exempts imported disaster management materials from taxes.

“This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen our disaster preparedness and climate resilience measures,” Lochakapong stated on Wednesday. Rongo MP Paul Abuor added that the committee intends to conduct a fact-finding mission to the affected regions to assess the damage and directly engage with victims, citing deforestation as a major contributor to the landslides.

National Response and Weather Warnings

In response to the crisis, President William Ruto has ordered the activation of a multi-agency emergency response involving national and county governments, the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), the KDF, and the Kenya Red Cross. The government has been airlifting supplies and personnel to isolated communities.

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has warned that heavy rainfall is expected to persist through November, particularly in the Lake Victoria Basin, the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, and the Central and South Rift Valley. In a statement on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, KMD Acting Director Edward Muriuki cautioned that sustained rainfall in October led to soil saturation, increasing the risk of further landslides and localized flooding in these regions. The department urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid driving or walking through flooded areas, and heed official advisories.

The ongoing disasters underscore the broader challenge of climate change in East Africa. Scientists have increasingly linked the rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region to global warming. In neighboring Uganda, recent landslides also claimed at least 13 lives, highlighting the regional dimension of the climate crisis.