This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
Published on November 25, 2019, a high-powered government delegation was unable to fly to West Pokot due to bad weather following the weekend landslide and floods that killed more than 50 people.
The delegation led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa was forced to land in Eldoret. They were accompanied by Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai and West Pokot County Commissioner George Natembeya.
"We have been forced to land here, so we will have to wait a bit to see whether it will clear and whether we will be advised to fly to Kapenguria," Matiangi told journalists in Eldoret.
However, Matiangi later decided to fly back to Nairobi when it became apparent that the weather would not improve for the better. The team was set to address a press conference at Wilson Airport later Monday on arrival from Eldoret.
"I know that because the roads are too difficult to navigate at this time, some of the foods and items like blankets will be late to arrive," Matiangi pointed out.
Wamalwa said the Government has since mobilized support to the affected families, even as the death toll rose to 52, with area leaders appealing for a chopper to ferry more bodies, believed to be trapped in the debris.
"Our national teams are on the ground working with County teams and the Kenya Red Cross officials to support the affected families," Wamalwa said.
Mutyambai said police were working with other agencies to "ensure the more than 100,000 people directly affected by the floods and the landslides are moved to safer grounds as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
