21 Dead, Over 30 Missing in Kenya Landslide: Minister

At least 21 people have been confirmed dead and more than 30 remain missing following a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in western Kenya, the country’s interior minister announced on Saturday.

The disaster occurred overnight in Marakwet East, a hilly region in the west of the country currently experiencing its rainy season.

“We have confirmed the loss of 21 people to this tragedy, while over 30 people are still unaccounted for as reported by their families,” Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen wrote on the social media platform X.

Murkomen said that search and rescue operations had been temporarily suspended for the night due to difficult conditions but would resume as soon as daylight allowed.

The Kenyan Red Cross released aerial photographs of the affected area showing vast mudslides and severe flash flooding spreading across large swathes of land.

In a statement posted on X, the humanitarian organisation said it was working closely with government agencies to coordinate rescue operations, including emergency air evacuations for those injured.

“Access to some of the affected areas remains extremely difficult due to flooding and blocked routes,” the Red Cross added, noting that the extent of the destruction was still being assessed as rescuers struggled to reach isolated communities.