The search and recovery mission for missing persons from Saturday’s massive landslides tragedy on the West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties border has begun today.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya said the rescue team was looking 27 missing people.
“Today and tomorrow, the rescue and recovery team will try to establish whether they are trapped in the mud or might have traveled before the tragedy struck.”
A multi-agency team coordinated by the Rift Valley regional office, includes the West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet county commissioners.
The Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service and the Red Cross are also involved in the operation.
Addressing reporters at the site of the tragedy this morning, 20th April, Natembeya said that eight police officers among the nine reported earlier to have been swept away at Chesogon Police Post, had been accounted for.
The officer in charge of the police post was rescued this morning. He and his three colleagues have been admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital at Eldoret.
“We have up to 4,000 homeless people being accommodated by their kin in the neighbourhood but plans are underway to have them accommodated at a nearby primary school. The government is providing them with relief food,” Natembeya said
The landslides have so far claimed six lives, with 13 people rescued and 27 still missing.
