Tragedy Strikes as Landslide Claims 21 Lives in Kenya

Sat Dec 06 2025 20:25:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in western Kenya has resulted in the loss of 21 lives, with rescue efforts ongoing amidst challenging conditions.

Following heavy rainfall, a tragic landslide in Marakwet East, western Kenya, has claimed 21 lives, with more than 30 individuals still unaccounted for. The Kenyan government and the Red Cross are coordinating rescue operations, but access to affected areas remains complicated due to mudslides and flash floods. The community is urged to relocate from risky areas as the rainy season continues. Similar flooding incidents have also impacted neighboring Uganda, exacerbating the regional crisis.

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 for further proceedings after the landslide in Marakwet East late on Friday night.

More than 30 individuals remain unaccounted for after being reported missing by their families, while 25 people with serious injuries have been airlifted for medical care.

The Kenyan Red Cross is assisting in coordinating the rescue efforts, and noted that several affected areas remain inaccessible due to mudslides and flash flooding.

The search and rescue operations were paused on Saturday evening, but are set to resume on Sunday. An effort to provide food and non-food relief items is already in preparation, with military and police choppers on standby to deliver supplies.

Kenya is currently experiencing its second rainy season, generally characterized by lighter rains compared to the earlier, more excessive rainfall earlier in the year. Residents near seasonal rivers and areas that recently experienced landslides have been advised to evacuate to safer locations.

In a related note, flash flooding and landslides in Uganda, close to the Kenyan border, have resulted in several fatalities since last Wednesday. A mudslide that occurred in the Kapsomo village claimed the lives of four individuals.

Floods have severely impacted numerous villages adjacent to riverbanks in the Bulambuli District, with continuous heavy rainfall causing nearby rivers to overflow, leading to widespread destruction of homes, crops, and essential infrastructure.