The Kenyan government has confirmed that 21 people have died following a landslide in the western part of the country after heavy rainfall.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the bodies had been transferred to a nearby airstrip after the landslide in Marakwet East late on Friday night.
He said on X that more than 30 people were still unaccounted for after being reported missing by their families while 25 people with serious injuries had been airlifted to receive further medical attention.
The Kenyan Red Cross, which is helping to coordinate rescue efforts, noted that the most affected areas are still not accessible by road due to mudslides and flash flooding.
The search and rescue operation was paused on Saturday evening but is set to resume on Sunday.
Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway, said Murkomen, adding: Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items. Kenya is currently in its second rainy season, traditionally associated with shorter but intense periods of rainfall.
The government has urged residents living near seasonal rivers and in areas that experienced landslides to move to safer ground.
Similar weather incidents have been reported in Uganda near the Kenyan border, where flash floods and landslides have also caused fatalities.
On Saturday, the Uganda Red Cross indicated another mudslide occurred in Kapsomo village, destroying a home and resulting in four fatalities.
Continued heavy rainfall has led to overflow from the River Astiri and the River Sipi, causing widespread destruction in Bulambuli District.
