The death toll from the devastating mudslide in Elgeyo Marakwet County has risen to 30, after rescue teams retrieved eight additional bodies on Sunday morning. The bodies were airlifted to the Eldoret Airstrip and later transferred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret for identification and postmortem examinations.
The tragedy, which struck in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, 2025, followed heavy rains that triggered massive flooding and landslides in Marakwet East Constituency. The region has been experiencing intense rainfall over the past week, causing widespread destruction and displacing several families.
According to Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, 22 bodies had initially been confirmed on Saturday, but the number has since increased as recovery operations intensify. “It is with a heavy heart that we address you today, as the onset of the short rains has brought devastating floods. The Government shares in your grief and stands with you during this painful time,” Mwaura said during a joint press briefing.
He added that 16 survivors are currently receiving treatment at MTRH, while others are admitted to different hospitals across the North Rift region. Additionally, 29 people remain missing, with search and rescue teams—comprising Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel, the Kenya Red Cross, and local volunteers—continuing to comb through the mud and debris.
Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) and Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service) toured the affected areas, assuring residents of government assistance, including emergency relief supplies, relocation support, and infrastructure restoration once conditions stabilize.
As recovery efforts continue, authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to move to safer ground, warning that ongoing heavy rains could trigger more landslides and flash floods in the coming days.
