Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has attributed the devastating Elgeyo Marakwet landslides, which have so far claimed at least 21 lives, to years of unchecked deforestation and unsustainable farming practices.
Speaking in Eldoret on Sunday, Murkomen described the tragedy as a national catastrophe, warning that more lives could be lost if residents fail to heed government safety advisories amid the ongoing heavy rains.
“The biggest problem with this issue is deforestation, the problem of landlessness,” Murkomen said.
“If you go further, where people own their own land, you will find that the kinds of farming are precipitating these issues. Instead of doing millet and maize, it’s better to do tea crops.”
Murkomen is currently leading search and rescue operations in Marakwet East, where the landslides have swept away homes and displaced dozens of families.
He said the government is “coming face to face with the devastation” as rescuers race against time to find survivors and recover bodies trapped under debris.
“We are racing against time to save lives and reassure a distraught community that we share in their pain,” he said.
“Besides mobilising food and non-food relief, the Government has also deployed a team to offer psychosocial support to help the affected families cope with the misfortune.”
The CS announced that the government, through the State Department for Special Programmes, has airlifted relief supplies to the affected areas, including 600 bags of rice, 520 bags of beans, 1,000 blankets, 300 mattresses, 30 boxes of soap, and 10 bales of sanitary towels.
He added that the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government is developing a formal framework to coordinate public and corporate donations to assist victims.
“To the many people who are making inquiries on how they can support the victims, the county government is working on a transparent framework for channeling contributions,” he said.
Murkomen lauded the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service, National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), Kenya Red Cross, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and the National Disaster Operations Centre.
He was joined by senior officials, among them Governors Stephen Sang (Nandi) and Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, PS Chris Kiptoo (National Treasury), PS Ismail Maalim (Special Programmes), and Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura.
Murkomen urged residents of the Kerio Valley to remain vigilant and relocate from high-risk areas as rainfall continues, stressing the importance of early warnings issued by local administrators.
“The entire Kerio Valley is under threat as it continues to rain; there is always the danger of landslides,” he cautioned.
“The County and Regional Commissioners are well briefed to ensure early alerts reach everyone so they can move to safer grounds.”
Search and rescue operations are being hampered by
impassable roads and blocked access routes, forcing the government to deploy
aerial support for evacuation and the delivery of medical aid.
