Several still missing as Chesongoch Mudslide survivors remain in makeshift camps amid slow aid efforts

The rolling hills and deep valleys that define Chesongoch have long concealed a latent danger.

Earlier this month, that threat erupted without warning, triggering a massive mudslide that swept through the region, claiming dozens of lives and leaving destruction in its wake.

The surge of mud rendered key access roads impassable, further delaying rescue operations and isolating survivors.

Among the facilities hardest hit was the Chesongoch Mission Hospital, a critical lifeline for the remote community. The mudslide destroyed essential infrastructure, including generators, beds, the hospital kitchen and the sewerage system.

“We had two generators — both were swept away. Our kitchen was carried away. Our sewerage system is gone. Our beds were carried away,” said Sister Lillian Raymond, the hospital’s administrator, describing the scale of the damage.

With more than a hundred families now displaced, the county government has acknowledged the ongoing risks and the urgent need for long-term solutions. Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich confirmed that recovery efforts continue as burial plans proceed.

“We still miss about eight people and we hope to find them before we do the final burials,” Governor Rotich said. “We continue to condole with our people.”

He added that immediate interventions include environmental rehabilitation efforts: “The most immediate option is to plant tree crops to stabilise the soil as the government considers long-term plans. Many of these people have nowhere to go, so we must balance livelihoods with safety. But we have advised our people to move.”

Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations and medical personnel continue to navigate the treacherous terrain to deliver food, medical supplies and psychological support. MEDS Kenya is among the groups responding to the crisis.

“We came after hearing the plea from the government and the bishop to help start rebuilding Chesongoch,” said Titus Munene of MEDS Kenya. “Today we brought a consignment of medicines, beds and mattresses.”

Amid the grief and uncertainty, residents strive to remain resilient. Health workers at the battered mission hospital say they are committed to restoring services and supporting the community through recovery.

“We will try our level best. We will recover and continue offering services to humanity — that is our calling,” one nurse said.