Lucky to survive, mudslide victims recall narrow escape
Rift Valley
By
Stephen Rutto
| Nov 04, 2025
The scene where a landslide killed an elderly woman and her grandchild at Kibendo village in Elgeyo Marakwet County, on November 2, 2025. [Stephen Rutto, Standard]
Victims of the mudslides that have devastated Elgeyo Marakwet over the past three days on Monday said they were lucky to be alive.
As they recuperated at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), three victims who had been trapped in the muddy areas of Murkutwa, Chesongoch and Kabetwa were found alive 48 hours after the disaster struck.
Gabriel Yego, an 89-year-old man, described his survival as a miracle. The octogenarian, who lived near the Embobut River, was rescued on Sunday.
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“It rained heavily, and I ran for my life when mud began flowing down the escarpments towards the valley. As I fled, I was caught up in the mud and rocks, sustaining injuries to my legs,” a frail Yego recalled at MTRH. He said escaping from the area was difficult because it was raining heavily.
Sarah Kemboi said she was woken at 1am on Saturday by a thunderous rumble and screams from neighbours.
“I ran for my life but was struck by a falling rock, injuring my right leg. Sadly, some neighbours who fled alongside me were buried by debris,” she said.
Rescuers and local officials expressed hope of finding more survivors. The Kenya Air Force deployed sniffer dogs to Marakwet East as the affected areas remained inaccessible by road.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura confirmed that 30 bodies have been recovered by yesterday evening.
Mwaura added that 19 people were still missing by thclose of day three of the ongoing search and rescue mission.
Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ngelechei said there was still hope of rescuing more people.
“We still have those who are still missing and we hope they will be found alive. We thank young men in Elgeyo Marakwet for helping the multi-agency team in the search and rescue mission,” Ngelechei said.
She added that the National Youth Service was mapping areas to host hundreds of displaced families. “Our priority is to evacuate locals in landslide-prone zones and continue searching for the missing,” she said.
Resident Timothy Kipchumba said military dogs had greatly aided the rescue. “Many roads were destroyed last night, making it difficult to deliver food to the valley,” he added.
Meanwhile, another mudslide and rockfall struck Kibendo in Keiyo North, killing a grandmother and her grandchild.
In Kibendo, Benson Chemweno, who lost his wife and grandchild, said he screamed for help after a rock crashed into the room where they were having their evening meal.
Chemweno said heavy rains had recently caused cracks in one of his houses. “At around 8 pm. I went to inspect the house when I heard loud rumbling. Moments later, a rock hit the house where my wife and grandchildren were,” he recounted.
He added: “I screamed for help and neighbours rushed to help. Unfortunately, my wife and one of the grandchildren had died.”
Chemweno’s brother Barnaba Kiplagat who responded to the distress call said the heavy downpour started at around 7pm on Sunday and the tragedy happened soon after the rains subsided.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said a county team was deployed at night to aid in the rescue mission.
He confirmed that one surviving grandchild had been treated and discharged.
“There are several landslides recorded across the county, from Keiyo South to Marakwet East. Many roads have been cut off and we are currently working with the national government to open the affected infrastructure and restore transport,” he said.
Dozens of people were still missing following the disaster.
“Chiefs and assistant chiefs in region are under instruction to move people to safer grounds in areas where earth movements are detected or have been experienced in the past,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said.
Several earth cracks have also been reported along parts of the Elgeyo Marakwet escarpments, sparking renewed fears among locals.