The bodies are preserved at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where more than 20 survivors remain admitted.
The government said affected families will decide when and where to bury their loved ones, given that many homes were destroyed by the mudslides.
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Kenya Red Cross Society workers assist mudslide victims at the Eldoret Airstrip/MATHEWS NDANYI
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.
Kenya Red Cross Society officials, led by North
Rift regional manager Oscar Okumu, said teams were working to reunite families
separated during the disaster that swept across several villages in Marakwet
East.
“We have set up camps to continue
assisting affected families in various ways, including the supply of
humanitarian support,” he said.
Okumu said more aid is still
needed, particularly food and non-food items, as well as construction materials
to help resettle displaced families.
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 said 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 mobilise 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.
Governor 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.
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 said counties in the region
were working as a team to ensure affected families received 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.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii flags off aid for victims of mudslides in Elgeyo Marakwet/MATHEWS NDANYI
“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.
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.
Instant analysis
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.
