West Pokot Mudslides: Death Toll Hits 52

The death toll from West Pokot landslides has climbed to 52 even as efforts to retrieve the bodies of other missing persons continue.

At least 22 other people are unaccounted for after mudslides hit Parua, Nyarkulian and Muino areas over the weekend, according to West Pokot Governor Prof. John Lonyangapuo.

Speaking on Monday, Governor Lonyangapuo said the search and rescue mission was being hampered by lack of transports after bridges were cut off.

“The challenge we are facing here is transportation because bridges have been cut off, we need the government to station a chopper here,” he said and urged the national government to deploy a chopper to ferry bodies to the morgue.

“The number of people confirmed dead now is 52. There are other bodies that are yet to be transported from the villages.” 

He said the landslides displaced at least 100,000 people from 22,000 homesteads and appealed to well-wishers to donate food items, clothes, and blankets.

Affected families have camped in schools, churches, and other facilities after their houses and livestock were submerged.

“It is a major disaster, I have lost my family and my cows,” said Joseph Edapal, one of the victims.