Gov’t To Relocate Marakwet Landslide Victims, Provide Basic Needs
The government has taken steps to assist the victims of the Marakwet landslide, including transferring affected families to safe regions, offering mental health care, and providing basic requirements.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa spoke at a tree planting event at Kongit Forest, Mount Elgon, about the ministry’s efforts to address the repercussions of the mudslide incident.
The disaster destroyed over 6,000 homesteads and displaced numerous families.
Barasa described the government’s long-term restoration strategy, which included the Ministry of Water addressing the overflow of water into people’s houses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture will monitor the situation of families who lost crops in the floods, and the Ministry of Environment will assist with restoration efforts.
“We have noticed the landslide at Elgeyo Marakwet, in Songot region, and Trans Nzoia, na Majalala where there is flooding and overflow of water into the homestead, displacing many families,” she stated.
“More than 6,000 hosted have been affected. This is indeed a disaster which the national government is responding to in the short term and long term with the Ministry of Environment as well, supporting restoration.”
Human activity along Kerio Valley escarpment identified as key trigger of landslides, mudslides
— KBC Channel 1 News (@KBCChannel1) November 7, 2025
Death toll from Elgeyo Marakwet landslide stands at 36, with 16 persons unaccounted for pic.twitter.com/GHQYMWkZp9
She added that: “In short term what we have done we have been able to move the victims, the affected homesteads, to an area that is safe and healthy and clean, ensuring that they are secure.
“We have been able to provide food for the communities as well as other non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, among others, to ensure that they are safe and warm in these areas.”
“Equally, we have ensured that we have sanitation facilities, we have ensured that we have mental health psychological support, and are continuing to offer health support to the families that have been affected.”
The CS also stated that the government is urging partners and conservatives to support the restoration of the damaged areas.
Heavy rains prompted the catastrophe on Friday, October 31, leaving more than 20 people missing.
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Following the disaster, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen urged Kerio Valley residents to heed early warnings and evacuate to safer areas, while announcing that 19 survivors had been rescued.
CS Murkomen assures Elgeyo Marakwet landslide victims that they will be fully compensated and resettled within one to two months.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) November 8, 2025
Murkomen: Following the President’s directive, we do not want this process to drag on indefinitely. Within a month or two, we will finalise all… pic.twitter.com/wC6yQffWRM
He ascribed the mudslide to years of deforestation and poor farming practices.
“The biggest problem with this issue is deforestation, the problem of landlessness,” he said.
“If you go further where people own their own personal land, you will find that the kinds of farming are precipitating these issues; instead of doing millet and maize, it’s better to do tea crops,” Murkomen stated in Eldoret on November 2, 2025.
Gov’t To Relocate Marakwet Landslide Victims, Provide Basic Needs
