ByIssa Hussein- Reporter
Kenya, July 5, 2026 – Hundreds of residents, government officials, humanitarian organisations and community groups on Sunday participated in a walk of honour in Kapsowar Town, Elgeyo Marakwet County, to commemorate the 51 people who lost their lives in the devastating Chesongoch landslide of October 31, 2025.The memorial walk, organised by the Kenya Red Cross Society under the theme “Stepping Up for Community Resilience,”brought together the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) North Rift Region, the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government, learning institutions, community-based organisations and other stakeholders in a show of solidarity with families affected by the tragedy.The participants paid tribute to the victims while renewing calls for stronger disaster preparedness, risk reduction measures and coordinated emergency response to safeguard communities living in disaster-prone areas.The Chesongoch disaster struck after heavy rainfall triggered massive landslides in the area, burying homes and infrastructure and claiming 51 lives. The catastrophe was among Kenya’s deadliest landslide incidents in recent years and exposed the vulnerability of settlements located on unstable slopes during periods of intense rainfall.
In a statement, KeNHA said its participation in the commemorative event underscored the Authority’s commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and building resilient communities.”The walk honoured the lives lost in the tragic Chesongoch landslide while promoting disaster preparedness, risk reduction and community solidarity,” the Authority said.KeNHA added that it remains committed to working closely with first responders, humanitarian agencies and other partners to strengthen emergency response systems, improve road safety and support initiatives aimed at protecting communities from future disasters.The Authority noted that resilient transport infrastructure plays a critical role during emergencies by ensuring affected communities can be reached quickly by rescue teams and relief supplies.The event also served as a platform to sensitise residents on disaster risk management, with participants urging communities to remain vigilant during periods of heavy rainfall and to heed evacuation advisories issued by authorities.Humanitarian organisations and local leaders emphasised the need for continued investment in early warning systems, environmental conservation and public awareness campaigns to reduce the impact of natural disasters.The annual remembrance is expected to keep alive the memory of those who perished while reinforcing collective responsibility among government agencies, humanitarian organisations and local communities to improve disaster preparedness and build resilience against climate-related hazards.
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