This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
Heavy rainfall in Kericho County, Kenya, has led to devastating landslides in the Kamasian and Kunyak areas, resulting in the loss of three young lives.
On Monday night, a landslide in Kamasian Ward, Kipkelion West Constituency, claimed the lives of two children at Nyangasakia village. The children were sleeping in a house that was swept away by the landslide.
Philip Rono, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Kamasian, confirmed that the children died in the incident. Their mother, who was sleeping in a separate room, managed to escape.
According to Rono, livestock was also swept away by the floodwaters. The bodies of the children were still at the scene in Kipkelion by the time our correspondent delivered this report.
However, the body of a 7-year-old child from Kiptenden village in Kunyak Ward had been taken to the Kericho sub-county hospital mortuary.
The landslide occurred after heavy rainfall that started on Monday afternoon and continued until the wee hours of the night. The most affected areas are Kiptenden, Kabirong, Kapkese, and Ng`ebebo.
Residents were forced to spend the night in various schools located on higher grounds. Officers from the national and county government are currently assessing the situation.
As reported by the Kenya Red Cross on April 20, 2020, 'Two separate landslide incidents reported in Kunyak, Kericho and Tinderet in Nandi County. Residents have been moved to safer grounds as heavy rains continue to pound both areas.'
