Murkomen leads day 2 rescue mission as relief airlifts reach Marakwet landslide victims
By Kiprono Keileb, November 2, 2025The government has intensified rescue and relief operations in Elgeyo Marakwet County following the devastating landslide that struck Marakwet East on Friday, October 31, 2025, night, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the second day of the mission focused on search and rescue efforts, as well as delivering emergency food and non-food items to families trapped or displaced by the disaster.
“We have kicked off day 2 of the search and rescue of the victims of the Marakwet East landslide disaster,” Murkomen said, adding that his ministry, together with the State Department for Special Programmes and well-wishers, had mobilised emergency support for the affected families.
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He said the government had already flagged off food and non-food items, which were airlifted to Chesongoch and other hard-to-reach areas where survivors have been camping since the tragedy struck.
“The relief items include 600 bags of rice, 520 bags of beans, 1,000 blankets, 300 mattresses, 30 boxes of soap, and 10 bales of sanitary towels,” Murkomen stated.
He noted that the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet is developing a framework to guide how contributions from the public and organisations will be channelled to support affected families.
“To the many people who are making inquiries on how they can support the victims, the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet is working on a framework for channelling the contributions from the public and organisations,” he said.
Murkomen praised the coordinated efforts of national and county government agencies, as well as humanitarian organisations and volunteers who have been on the ground since the disaster occurred.
“I wish to laud the continued support of the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, NGAOs, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, County Government of Elgeyo-Marakwet, National Disaster Operation Centres, the Kenya Red Cross, and other non-state actors and the general public,” he said.
Murkomen was joined by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, Public Service CS Moses Kuria, PSs Chris Kiptoo and Ismail Maalim, and Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura in leading the rescue and coordination mission.
As rescue operations, hundreds of displaced families are being sheltered in temporary camps as the government works to restore safety, provide medical aid, and deliver relief to survivors.