Ongoing Rescue Efforts in Kerio Valley
About 20 people were still missing on Thursday as rescue workers and residents made final attempts to trace survivors or recover bodies in areas hit by mudslides in the Kerio Valley. The region, which has been severely affected by recent natural disasters, continues to face challenges in both immediate relief and long-term recovery.
Kenya Red Cross Society officials, led by North Rift regional manager Oscar Okumu, reported that teams are working to reunite families separated during the disaster. The event swept across several villages in Marakwet East, causing widespread destruction and displacement. Okumu emphasized the importance of continued humanitarian support, stating that more aid is still needed, particularly food and non-food items, as well as construction materials to help resettle displaced families.
Burial Planning and Government Support
Meanwhile, Elgeyo Marakwet county leaders and a multi-sectoral team have started meetings to plan the burial of 34 people who died in the tragedy. The bodies are preserved at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where more than 20 survivors remain admitted. The government has stated that affected families will decide when and where to bury their loved ones, given that many homes were destroyed by the mudslides.
Governors in the North Rift region have also stepped up efforts to mobilize aid for victims. Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has led a major humanitarian appeal, with faith-based, corporate, and civic groups joining hands to support families in Elgeyo Marakwet. Bii received donations from the Hindu Council of Kenya (Eldoret Chapter), the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), the Lions Club of Eldoret, and Wareng Powerhouse.
Community Collaboration and Relief Efforts
The relief consignment included foodstuffs and other essential supplies destined for displaced families. Speaking during the handover at the county headquarters and later at the Eldoret Airstrip, Bii hailed the outpouring of support as a true demonstration of compassion and unity. “This is the true spirit of generosity and togetherness that defines us as the City of Champions,” he said.
He added that counties in the region are working as a team to ensure affected families receive timely support. “Our machinery is already on the ground opening roads and restoring access to affected areas. At the same time, our medical teams are offering support and attending to those in need. We are doing everything possible to ensure relief reaches every affected family,” Bii said.
Representing the Hindu Council of Kenya, Ngirish Khetia reaffirmed their commitment to stand with the community during difficult times. “We have always stood with the county and its people, and we will continue to do more to support those affected,” he said.
Aj Shah of the Lions Club expressed solidarity with the victims, saying, “We share in the grief of the great people of Elgeyo Marakwet. This is a moment for all of us to come together and help those in distress.”
Dan Melly, representing Wareng Powerhouse, pledged continued partnership with the county in relief efforts. “We will stand with the county in this effort. We will be handing over more foodstuff to support families affected by the tragedy,” he said.
Challenges and Long-Term Recovery
Governor Bii commended the overwhelming goodwill from across the community, saying it reflected the compassion, partnership, and resilience that define Uasin Gishu county. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to coordinating relief efforts and working with humanitarian partners to ensure affected families receive immediate assistance and long-term recovery support.
The call for more aid highlights the scale of devastation in Kerio Valley and the strain on available humanitarian resources. With families displaced and homes destroyed, the urgent need for food and non-food items underlines gaps in disaster preparedness and local response capacity.
The Kenya Red Cross Society and county authorities face the twin challenge of immediate relief and long-term recovery, including resettlement. The crisis also exposes the vulnerability of hillside communities amid increasingly erratic weather patterns.
Without sustained support and coordinated intervention, the affected families risk prolonged suffering even as rescue efforts transition into recovery and rebuilding phases.