Willis Otieno ridicules CS Miano over photo blunder amid Elgeyo Marakwet landslide tragedy
Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has taken a swipe at Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, accusing her of being out of touch with the country’s realities following a tragic landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Otieno, on Sunday, October 2, 2025, questioned the CS’s knowledge of Kenya’s geography, saying it was shameful for a government official in charge of tourism to appear unaware of key parts of the country.
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“A whole Cabinet Secretary for Tourism can’t tell the difference between Peru and Elgeyo Marakwet, even when the latter is literally in mourning after a landslide. How do you represent a country you can’t even recognise on the map?” he said.
Otieno made the comments after the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that several people had been injured following a massive landslide that struck Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The incident, which occurred after heavy overnight rains, has left families displaced and residents counting losses.
Disconnect between leaders and citizens
The lawyer expressed frustration over what he described as a disconnect between government leaders and the struggles of ordinary citizens.
“When Kenyans were counting bodies and comforting survivors, she was probably checking if Machu Picchu was in Keiyo South. If tourism depended on her geography, we’d be marketing Kericho as the Bahamas,” Otieno added.
His remarks came as humanitarian organisations, led by the Kenya Red Cross, continued rescue and relief operations in the affected region.
Also watch: Government responds to Marakwet landslide, assures support to affected families
In an official statement posted on its X account on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Red Cross said, “A landslide following heavy overnight rains has hit Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre, Elgeyo Marakwet County, leaving many people injured.”
The organisation also confirmed that emergency teams had been deployed to the scene to help the injured and assess the extent of the damage. “Our teams are on the ground supporting those affected,” the Red Cross noted.
The landslide adds to a growing number of weather-related disasters in the country as heavy rains continue to wreak havoc across several counties.
Dozens of families in Elgeyo Marakwet are now seeking shelter after losing their homes and property in the mudslide.
