The rescue mission for mudslides and floods victims at Chesegon along West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties is ongoing.
Four people have been confirmed dead and over 20 people are still missing. 25 people were injured and are recuperating at Apollo dispensary.
A stretch of more than ten kilometers has been swept by the raging floods and more than 350 households have been affected.
Chesegon trading center was also swept away, Chesegon Police post, Chesegon Primary School, Cheptulel Boys School and the proposed Chesegon Technical Training Institute[TTI]. Trees and cattle dips have also been submerged and swept away.
Some of the police officers who were attached at Chesegon police post survived the raging floods but have serious injuries.
Locals resorted to digging through the mud and rescue some of the victims from the rabble with their bare hands 12 hours after the tragic incident before any government officials arrived in the area.
Residents said a good number of survivors are in critical condition and the best they could do for them was to light a fire to keep them warm, highlighting the dire situation.
The Kenya Red Cross volunteers are on the ground searching and identifying affected families and offering counselling.
One of the police officers who sought anonymity said his hands and legs are fractured and he can’t stand on his own. “The floods pushed us away four kilometres from the police post. We survived by a whisker and some of our friends are still missing,” he said.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya, Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen, West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and MPs-Peter Lochakapong [Sigor] Bowen Kangogo [Marakwet East] have visited the area.
Natembeya said the government is working round the clock to offer humanitarian aid to the affected families.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo said evacuation and rescue efforts have been affected by inaccessibility to the flooded areas as road sections swept by last year’s floods have not been repaired.
