Kenya Landslide Death Toll Rises To 26 Amid Rescue Efforts

The death toll from the devastating landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet County, western Kenya, has risen to 26, with 25 people still missing amid ongoing search and rescue operations. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen highlighted that rescue efforts have been hampered by flash floods, forcing teams to temporarily suspend operations, though the government has deployed military aircraft to support access and supply deliveries to affected and isolated communities. Evacuations from high-risk areas have begun due to continued heavy rains, which have caused widespread destruction, displacing thousands and damaging homes and livelihoods. The government is providing humanitarian aid, including food, medical care, and resettlement support, and has urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone zones to relocate for safety. Climate change has been identified as a contributing factor to the increasing frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in Kenya and the region. Similar landslides have recently affected neighboring Uganda, emphasizing the broader regional impact of these disasters.