Fourteen learners are among confirmed fatalities in Saturday’s devastating landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The revelations come as the government scrambles to ensure that candidates in the affected region sit for the ongoing national exams.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok confirmed that candidates in 28 primary and secondary schools directly affected by the landslide and related floods will be able to sit for Kenya Junior Secondary Education assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

Speaking at the Westlands Deputy County Commissioner’s officers after witnessing the opening of containers holding theory KCSE papers which kicked off today, the PS said helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and other logistics have been assembled to distribute and retrieve exams.

“As government, we have mobilized all resources necessary to ensure that affected candidates can continue their examinations without interruption. We have made adequate arrangements to ensure that no candidate is disadvantaged because of weather conditions or the recent disaster,” he said.

He said the Ministry was working closely with that of Interior, other state agencies and the county government to evacuate affected families including candidates and providing alternative exam centers for KCSE and the last of KJSEA paper.At least three bridges were destroyed in the landslide effectively cutting off schools from access to exam containers.

The heavy rains pounding the area have directly or indirectly affected 1,867 candidates in both junior and senior schools.

The PS who later visited the area affected by the tragedy regretted the incident that has claimed at least 28 lives and said the government will extend support to affected institutions.

“We are saddened by the loss of young lives in Marakwet East. It is an immense tragedy, and we extend our deepest condolences to the affected families.”

Bitok further expressed satisfaction with the ongoing administration of national examinations across the country.

“Today marks the start of the English paper, which is the first major KCSE paper. I’m pleased to report that all containers were opened on time and exams dispatched without incident. We will deliver a credible and secure examination process.”

The government, through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, has announced six additional affordable housing projects now available for booking on the Boma Yangu portal.

In a notice issued on Monday, November 3, the department stated that Kenyans can now reserve units in the newly announced projects as part of the ongoing expansion of the national Affordable Housing Programme.

“In line with our commitment to achieve countrywide coverage of the national Affordable Housing Programme, we are happy to announce 6 additional projects available for booking on the Boma Yangu portal. You can now reserve a unit in either of the following projects,” the statement read.

The six projects comprise Michinda Estate, Jogoo Road Phase 1, Embakasi Estate, Marigat Estate, Gatundu Estate, and Kitengela Vet Estate.

The announcement represents a significant expansion of housing options for Kenyans seeking to own homes under the government’s flagship housing initiative.

The Affordable Housing Programme has been making steady progress in delivering new homes across the country.

Currently, 195,578 housing units are under development, with projects ongoing in 44 counties and 111 constituencies.

The government has outlined plans to extend the programme to all 47 counties, with Turkana, Marsabit, and West Pokot being the only counties yet to see active construction.

Since the programme’s inception in 2022, a total of 3,171 units have been completed and handed over to beneficiaries.

These include landmark projects such as Buxton Phase One in Mombasa, with 584 units; Nakuru Bondeni, with 605 units; Boma Yangu Mukuru, with 1,080 units; Boma Yangu Homa Bay, with 110 units; and housing for disciplined forces, comprising 792 units.

Additionally, 4,888 affordable housing units have been advertised for public sale across various locations in the country.

The programme has also extended to addressing institutional accommodation challenges, with student housing projects being developed. A total of 177,686 student beds, equivalent to 50,767 units, have been planned to ease the housing crisis in universities and colleges nationwide.

During a recent visit to Ethiopia, President William Ruto lauded Kenyans for embracing the Affordable Housing Programme, which has mobilized over 4 billion dollars (KSh518 billion) locally to finance housing projects.

“Two years ago, we decided that we were going to give dignity to our people, and we are going to build houses for them. We have 700,000 housing units in the pipeline, and we are already constructing 170,000 houses. Kenyans from their own resources, without debt and without support from others, have raised projects worth four billion dollars under the housing programme,” President Ruto stated.

The Ministry of Interior has acknowledged receipt of a letter regarding the whereabouts of two Kenyan nationals who have been missing in Uganda for over a month.

In a letter addressed to Vocal Africa, PS Korir Sing’oei noted that the Ministry has continuously engaged Ugandan authorities to locate Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who went missing on October 1, 2025.

According to the correspondence dated October 23, 2025, the High Court of Uganda in Kampala issued a writ of habeas corpus on October 15, ordering the Ugandan government to produce the two individuals, dead or alive, within seven days ending October 21, 2025.

The ministry revealed that on October 22, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) formally denied holding the two Kenyans in their custody.

“In the sworn affidavit, Col. Kamanda indicated that investigations had been carried out and searches conducted across all relevant detention facilities, including lock-up registers and custody records. It was stated that no entry relating to the two Kenyans was found between October 1, 2025, and the present date,” the letter states.

The UPDF further stated that the two Kenyans were not in their custody and that they were unaware of their whereabouts.

However, in a ruling delivered on October 23, the High Court dismissed the habeas corpus application, holding that the applicants had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the two Kenyan nationals were being held in any known or recognized state detention facility.

Despite dismissing the application, the judge acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and formally classified the case as one of ‘missing persons.’

The court directed the petitioners to file a formal missing-person report with the Uganda Police Force, thereby formally investigating under existing procedures governing such cases.

The PS noted that the court’s jurisdiction is limited to cases of proven detention by state agents and that without evidence that the petitioners were in custody, it could not make further coercive orders against the Ugandan government.

The Ministry has requested contact details of the families of Mr. Nicholas Oyoo and Mr. Bob Njagi to facilitate further engagement with Ugandan authorities.

The two activists disappeared after traveling to Uganda to express solidarity with opposition leader Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential elections.

On September 30, they were seen accompanying the opposition leader during campaign rallies in Buyende and Kamuli districts. Their ordeal began when their vehicle experienced mechanical issues, forcing them to stop at a fuel station in Kireka for repairs. Eyewitnesses reported that four armed individuals surrounded them before forcibly taking them into a waiting vehicle.

The disappearance has sparked outrage among human rights activists and civil society organizations in Kenya. Last week, protesters chained themselves outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices along Harambee Avenue, blocking the gate and disrupting operations while demanding immediate action for the release of the two men.

The demonstrators voiced frustration with what they termed government inaction, accusing Kenyan authorities of colluding with Uganda to conceal the truth about the activists’ location.

Vocal Africa, a non-governmental organization, has called on the Kenyan government to take stern and decisive action against Uganda, arguing that diplomatic engagement has yielded no results.

Amnesty International Kenya has also issued demands to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, urging his administration to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the two activists, guarantee their right to legal representation, and launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their abduction.