Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, has assured residents of the Kerio Valley region that the government will support them until all the challenges brought about by the recent landslides are fully addressed.
Speaking during a visit to the affected areas, Murkomen said the National Government, under the directive of President William Ruto, had ordered immediate action to assist the victims and restore normalcy.
“We will not leave you alone until everything is sorted,” he affirmed. “Through the President’s direction, this should be done really quick. We do not want to reach a point where people become internally displaced persons or long-term victims of the landslide,” CS assured.
Murkomen announced that a special committee will be formed to oversee the resettlement and recovery process, ensuring transparency and accountability in the handling of aid and resources.
“We want a genuine list of those affected by the landslides,” he emphasized. “No one should be added to the list if they were not directly involved. This is not the time for politics or favoritism, it is about helping actual victims,” Murkomen warned.
The Cabinet Secretary directed county leaders to take charge of the process and ensure it is completed within two months.
“The county leadership should move with speed and ensure the task is completed within two months, not dragged on for six months or even a year,” Murkomen stated.
Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting disaster victims across the country.
“The Special Programmes docket will continue giving support to everyone affected by any disaster,” Ruku assured, adding, “We will remain in Elgeyo Marakwet until everything is completely addressed and the victims rebuild their lives.”
The government’s assurance comes as residents of Marakwet East continue to grapple with the aftermath of the landslide that claimed dozens of lives and displaced several families. Relief operations and rehabilitation efforts are continuing in the worst-hit areas of the Kerio Valley.
by Rennish Okong’o
