Rachel Ruto donates 600 bags of rice and iron sheets to Elgeyo Marakwet landslide victims

K24 Digital Reporter 08th November, 2025 05:13 PM

The First Lady, Rachel Ruto, has donated relief aid to victims of the recent landslide in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet. The donations included 600 sacks of rice, 500 sacks of beans, 8,000 iron sheets, 2,000 blankets, 1,000 mattresses, 50 boxes of soap, and 20 boxes of sanitary towels.

The aid was delivered as Rachel Ruto visited the area to mourn and offer her condolences to families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy that occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The landslide claimed 35 lives, and 11 people remain missing.

During her visit, the First Lady toured the affected area and witnessed the devastation firsthand.

“I have seen how water and soil flowed from the upper area, diverting the water path and passing through where people’s homes were located, which has now been reduced to rocks and water,” she said.

Also watch: CS Barasa says landslide victim will be relocated.

Rachel Ruto pledged to work with the government department responsible for forest conservation to ensure forests are protected and similar disasters are prevented in the future.

The First Lady also expressed delight at the return of peace to the Kerio Valley, urging residents to continue living in harmony.

“I ask the residents to continue living in peace and loving one another,” she emphasised, noting that peace is a crucial pillar for national development.

First Lady Rachel Ruto lands at Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County to console landslide victims and assess ongoing humanitarian efforts. She is accompanied by, among others, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
PHOTOS/Wycliff Kipsang

She further assured the residents that President William Ruto cares about them and is implementing strategies to ensure the region experiences economic growth and meaningful transformation.

Calling on religious leaders to support the victims, Rachel Ruto said, “Families have lost their loved ones, their children, and their property,” urging them to provide comfort and counselling to all those affected.

She also praised the citizens who set aside their differences and united to help the residents of Kerio Valley during this tragedy.

Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security, Kipchumba Murkomen, assured residents that the government is continuing to implement strategies to assist all affected people. However, he urged that aid be directed only to those directly impacted.

“We do not want people to start writing down the names of relatives who do not live here and were not affected by the disaster,” Murkomen stated.