Early Saturday morning, as dawn broke over Kenya’s Rift Valley, tragedy struck in the form of a landslide triggered by relentless, pounding rains. At least 13 people lost their lives in the disaster, with rescue teams racing against time to find survivors and account for the missing. The event, which unfolded on November 1, 2025, in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, has once again cast a harsh spotlight on the growing threat of extreme weather events in East Africa—a threat that many scientists link directly to the intensifying impacts of climate change.
According to Reuters, the landslide tumbled down the hillsides of the Rift Valley after hours of heavy rainfall, swallowing homes and cutting off roads in its path. Nineteen people were pulled from the debris alive, but the number of those still unaccounted for remains uncertain. Elgeyo-Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge confirmed the grim toll, stating, “Thirteen people have been confirmed dead after the landslide this morning. We have rescued nineteen others, but there are still missing persons whose details are not yet known.”
Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen addressed the nation, revealing the scale of the emergency response. “Military helicopters and police have been deployed to assist rescue efforts,” he said, as quoted by Reuters. The deployment of both military and police aviation units underscores the severity of the situation and the logistical challenges faced by first responders in the rugged, often inaccessible terrain of the Rift Valley.
For many in the region, this disaster is heartbreakingly familiar. Landslides and floods have become a recurring nightmare in Kenya, claiming hundreds of lives in recent years. Last year, in what was then described as the worst such incident, 61 people perished in a series of landslides and sudden floods in central Kenya. These disasters are not isolated; scientists warn that climate change is making extreme weather events both more intense and more frequent across the region. “Climate change causes extreme weather events that are more intense and frequent,” scientists have repeatedly cautioned, as cited by Reuters and other international outlets.
The scene on the ground in Elgeyo-Marakwet County was one of chaos and urgency. Local authorities, aided by national emergency services, scrambled to clear debris, search for survivors, and provide shelter to those left homeless by the landslide. Helicopters hovered overhead, ferrying supplies and rescuers into areas that had become inaccessible by road. For many families, the wait for news about missing loved ones was agonizing—a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be upended by natural disasters.
The impact of the landslide in Kenya was not felt in isolation. Across the border in Uganda, similar scenes of devastation played out this same week. According to the Ugandan Red Cross, landslides in the country’s eastern region claimed at least 13 lives, further underscoring the regional scale of the crisis. As reported by Jakarta-based media and confirmed by Reuters, “Landslides in the eastern region of neighboring Uganda have also killed at least 13 people this week.”
Elsewhere, the heavy toll of extreme weather events has been recorded in countries as distant as Mexico and Nepal. In Mexico, floods and landslides have killed at least 41 people in recent weeks, while in Nepal, heavy rains led to bridge collapses and landslides that took at least 47 lives. These events, while separated by thousands of miles, share a common thread: the growing vulnerability of communities to climate-driven disasters.
Kenya’s Rift Valley, known for its dramatic landscapes and fertile soils, has always been prone to landslides, particularly during the rainy season. However, local residents and officials say the frequency and intensity of such events have increased noticeably in recent years. “Hundreds of people have died in Kenya in recent years due to landslides and floods,” noted a Jakarta-based news outlet, echoing the concerns of many in the region. The reasons, scientists say, are clear: rising global temperatures are altering rainfall patterns, leading to heavier downpours and more saturated soils—prime conditions for landslides.
For those living in vulnerable areas, the risks are compounded by poverty, deforestation, and inadequate infrastructure. Many homes in the Rift Valley are built on steep slopes or riverbanks, where the land is cheap but unstable. When the rains come, these settlements are often the first to be hit. Efforts to relocate at-risk communities or reinforce hillsides have been hampered by limited resources and the sheer scale of the challenge.
As rescue operations continue, officials are urging residents in other high-risk areas to remain vigilant and heed evacuation orders when issued. The government has pledged to provide support to affected families, but the road to recovery will be long and fraught with difficulties. The emotional scars left by such tragedies often linger long after the physical wounds have healed.
In the wake of the landslide, calls for greater investment in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation have grown louder. Experts argue that while emergency responses are critical, long-term solutions are needed to protect communities from future disasters. This includes improved early warning systems, better land-use planning, and stronger enforcement of building codes. There is also a pressing need for international cooperation and financial support, as many developing countries lack the resources to tackle the root causes of vulnerability on their own.
The events in Kenya and neighboring Uganda this week serve as a stark reminder that the impacts of climate change are not abstract or distant—they are unfolding in real time, with devastating consequences for millions of people. As the world debates how best to curb greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate, the stories of those affected by landslides, floods, and other disasters must remain at the forefront of the conversation.
For now, the focus in Kenya’s Rift Valley remains on the search for survivors and the daunting task of rebuilding shattered communities. The tragedy has united the nation in grief, but also in determination—a determination to confront the challenges of a changing world and to build a safer, more resilient future for all.
