Death toll from the deadly landslides in the Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties has risen to 12, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya has confirmed.
Natembeya said that one of the officers who was rescued on Sunday and taken for specialized treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) succumbed to his injuries.
“One of the officers who was swept away from Chesogon Police post was found today dead,” Mr. Natembeya said.
The regional administrator said that rescue teams are still combing the wet terrain to find survivors.
However, he appealed to residents to move to safer ground to avert disaster as heavy rain continues to pound the area.
“If they will fail to heed the passionate plea to cooperate with the government agencies, we may be forced to use force to prevent further loss of lives,” Natembeya warned.
The rains hit several parts of West Pokot damaging heavily Chesogon market that was rebuild last year on the border of the two counties to help foster peaceful interaction and coexistence of the warring communities.
“The heavy rains happened in the highlands but the damage downwards was so traumatizing as the running waters cut across the villages carrying heavy boulders, tree stumps and houses,” he said.
In a statement, Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna said that food supplies have been dispatched to the 493 households that were affected by Sunday’s mudslides and flash floods.
The aid consignment consists of 300 bags of rice, 50 bags of corn and soya ujimix, 50 cartons of cooking oil as well as 100 basins to help address the humanitarian crisis.
