Written by Lisa Murimi
The government has deployed a multi-agency emergency response team after heavy rains wreaked havoc across the country, causing landslides, flash floods, and significant loss of life and property.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Interior, the taskforce will comprise National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Red Cross, and officials from key ministries to coordinate rescue operations, humanitarian aid, and disaster surveillance in the worst-hit areas.
The ministry urged Kenyans to remain vigilant, avoid flooded roads and rivers, and relocate from low-lying or landslide-prone areas.
It also advised citizens to follow official weather and safety updates from the Kenya Meteorological Department and County Disaster Units to mitigate risks during the ongoing heavy rainfall season.
The announcement followed a devastating landslide in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet County, which claimed 13 lives early Saturday morning after days of relentless downpour.
Videos from the scene showed submerged homes and residents trapped in mud as local rescue teams struggled to reach the affected areas.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopters carrying medical personnel and Red Cross responders had been dispatched to assist with evacuations and airlifting of the injured. So far, 19 survivors have been rescued and several others treated at Chesongoch Mission Hospital.
Murkomen noted that accessibility remains a major challenge as several roads, including the Kapsowar–Chesoi route, have been cut off by mudslides.
Elsewhere, a 15-year-old boy drowned in River Obonyo, Kisumu West, after being swept away by floodwaters. In Tana River County, floods submerged 67 households, killing 170 livestock, while Garissa County reported the loss of 300 goats.
In Kisumu, over 340 households have been displaced across Kaputhe, Nanga, and Dunga, while in Laikipia County, flooding from overflowed dams has displaced nearly 90 families.
Localized flooding has also been reported in Mombasa’s Mburukenge and Kaa Chonjo settlements, where poor drainage has compounded the effects of the downpour.
The Kenya Meteorological Department warns that the October–December short rains will continue to intensify, urging counties to activate disaster response measures to prevent further tragedy.
