At least 26 killed by landslides in Kenya's Rift Valley

A death toll from a landslide in western Kenya's Rift Valley has risen to 26, a government spokesman says, following heavy rains.

Twenty-five people were still missing and 26 others had been rescued after devastating floods in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said in a statement.

Most of the rescued people were receiving treatment.

The government has deployed military planes and disaster response specialists to conduct a search and rescue operation, Mwaura added.

"Some families have lost more than five immediate relatives," Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told reporters on Sunday.

So many ordinary Kenyans and their families have been affected by the Mudslide tragedy at Sambirir, Endo and Embobut Wards of Elgeyo Marakwet County. As leaders, we addressed over 2,000 Mudslide Affected Persons at the Chesongoch Catholic Mission, where they are camping. pic.twitter.com/6Kgmk1fD4K— Dr. Isaac Mwaura CBS (@MwauraIsaac1) November 2, 2025

Heavy rains that began on Friday night saturated hillsides and triggered landslides that engulfed homes in the Murkutwa, Embobut and Chesongoch settlements.

Boulders, mud and floodwaters swept away livestock, crops and homes, isolating remote farming communities.

"The roads are totally broken. As we are talking, we are landlocked. There is no road movement here now," police commander Zablon Okoyo said.

The Kenya Meteorological Department warned of continued heavy rains exceeding 30 millimetres in the coming days.

The region is in its rainy season.

Hundreds of people have been killed in recent years in landslides and flooding in Kenya.

In the worst incident last year, 61 people were killed in a mudslide and flash floods in central Kenya.

Landslides in the east of neighbouring Uganda have also killed at least 13 people in the last week, according to the Uganda Red Cross.

with DPA