Wamuzi News Ke
In a devastating early-morning disaster, heavy overnight rains have triggered a massive landslide that tore through Moror Village and the nearby Chesongoch Centre, claiming at least 10 lives and leaving many more injured and missing.
Local authorities say the scale of the tragedy is immense and the terrain now virtually inaccessible. Kerio Valley Sub-County Commander Zablon Okonyo confirmed the death toll and warned that further casualties could yet emerge as search teams strive to reach the hardest-hit zones.
Rescue units have moved into action. Deputy Governor Wesley Rotich announced the county government is mobilising ambulances, medical personnel and additional resources from across the region to respond to the disaster. Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross has activated relief teams to help with emergency operations and support for affected families.
The Disaster Zone and Conditions.
Eyewitnesses report that as rain pounded the area through the night, water-logged slopes suddenly gave way, sweeping away homes, livestock and entire sections of the hillside into valleys below. The centring of Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre meant the destruction hit a populated area. Roads and access routes into the region remain blocked by mud and debris, hampering rescue efforts.
Soil science experts say the region’s vulnerability is longstanding: decades of land use changes, deforestation and steep terrain have left hillsides in the county highly prone to erosion and landslides when extreme rainfall hits. This is not the first time disaster has struck: similar incidents in recent years have resulted in fatalities, displacement and major damage.
Wider Implications and Urgent Needs.
The magnitude of this landslide signals an urgent need for coordinated relief and deeper review of land-management practices across the county. With heavy rains expected to persist in the region, the threat of further slope failures remains real.
Emergency services face a race against time: injured survivors lie trapped under rubble, survivors are stranded without shelter, and families await news of missing loved ones.
Local hospitals are preparing for an influx of critical casualties, and the county government is calling for immediate support from national agencies, relief organisations and the public.
