Residents affected by the devastating Chesongoch landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet County have received a major boost after the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) donated food supplies, textbooks, instructional materials, and exercise books to support families and schools recovering from the tragedy.
Speaking during the donation exercise in his office in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich thanked the Competition Authority of Kenya, led by Director General David Kemei, for standing with the community since the disaster struck.
“The Competition Authority of Kenya came to support us when we were restoring lives through payment of medical bills and funeral support, but they said that was not enough. They have come back again, not only looking at the short-term needs but also the long-term impact on the community,” said Rotich.
The Governor noted that the Authority had donated learning materials to schools in the affected area, describing the gesture as an investment in the future of children whose education was disrupted by the disaster.
Rotich also provided an update on the government’s ongoing resettlement programme for displaced families, saying construction of permanent homes was progressing steadily.
“We have finished building houses in Kibendo, and we are almost done with 18 houses in Chesongoch. Another 20 houses are at the foundation stage, and we are hopeful that in the next few months all affected families will have decent homes,” he said.
The governor emphasized that the county government remained committed to ensuring accountability in the use of donations and support received from well-wishers.
“I am determined to ensure that whatever we receive from well-wishers is used properly. When we hand over the keys to the beneficiaries, we will invite all our partners to witness that historic moment,” Rotich said.
He added that the county had shifted its focus from short-term relief to permanent solutions for affected families.
“Previously, we used to give food and other small items, but this time we are making sure that families are permanently settled,” he said.
Rotich noted that recovery efforts were being coordinated through a multi-agency approach involving the National government, County government, Non-governmental organisations like the Kenya Red Cross and other stakeholders.
“We are working as a team and we have a committee composed of government agencies, NGOs, private sector players and humanitarian organisations to ensure recovery efforts succeed,” he said.
The governor also raised concern over the emerging drought situation in parts of the county, particularly in Kerio Valley, where rainfall has been inadequate in recent weeks.
“We are conducting a rapid assessment and working closely with the County Commissioner and the national government. Our immediate priority is to ensure all boreholes along Kerio Valley are rehabilitated so that communities have enough water for domestic use, livestock and other needs,” he said.
Rotich warned that if the rains delay further, the county could face significant challenges and pledged to keep residents updated on the situation.
Kemei said the authority’s intervention was informed by the governor’s appeal to stakeholders following the deadly landslide.
“When the unfortunate tragedy happened in Chesongoch, you reached out to all of us and that is how the CAK came in to support the affected community,” said Kemei.
He recalled that CAK had participated in a fundraising drive organised to assist victims and had pledged to continue supporting recovery efforts.
“We attended the harambee in Nairobi that was geared towards supporting the county in alleviating the consequences of the flooding. We made our contribution then and promised that we would continue looking for resources to support the people of Elgeyo Marakwet,” he said.
Kemei said the donation forms part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which seeks to support vulnerable communities across the country while complementing the authority’s core mandate.
“The Competition Authority of Kenya is responsible for ensuring we have an efficient and competitive market in the country. We also protect consumers from unfair market practices by businesses. As part of that mandate, we undertake CSR activities, and this financial year we chose to support Elgeyo Marakwet because of the dire consequences caused by the floods,” he said.
The Director General revealed that CAK had delivered 6,950 kilograms of food supplies, 800 exercise books, 1,000 instructional materials approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and 587 packets of sanitary towels for learners in the affected area.
Kemei added that the food supplies had been sourced through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to guarantee quality and reliability.
He further announced that CAK officials would work with the county administration in the delivery of the donations to the affected people to ensure fair distribution so that the most affected benefit.
Kemei noted that the donation exercise was not the first engagement between the CAK and the county, saying the authority has previously conducted consumer awareness and public sensitisation programmes in the region.
“This is not the start of CAK’s engagement with this county. We have been here before through sensitisation programmes aimed at helping wananchi understand the role of the CAK,” he said.
He took the opportunity to clarify the distinction between the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Communications Authority of Kenya, noting that the two institutions have different mandates. He stated that their mandate is to promote fair competition and protect consumers across all the 47 counties.
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to working closely with the county government to foster a fair business environment and safeguard consumers from exploitation
The Chesongoch landslide remains one of the deadliest disasters in Elgeyo Marakwet County, claiming dozens of lives and displacing many families. However, ongoing support from government agencies, humanitarian organisations and well-wishers continues to offer hope to survivors as recovery and resettlement efforts progress.
By Alice Wanjiru and June Jebet
