In brief
More than 40 people have died in the aftermath of landslides in the mountainous regions of Uganda and Kenya. Victims include children and entire families, with survivors sharing harrowing accounts as search efforts intensify amid warnings of further landslides. The Ugandan government has initiated compensation for affected families, while the Kenyan government is urged to provide support.
More than 40 people are now known to have died after multiple landslides struck Kenya and Uganda's mountainous border region last week.
Felix Kemboi, a survivor from Kaptul village on the Kenyan side, shared his heartbreak: I lost a grandmother, a maternal aunt, an uncle, two sisters, a family friend and a cousin. His emotional turmoil reflects the widespread grief affecting many families.
Many individuals remain unaccounted for as search and rescue teams continue their operations, hampered by the risk of additional landslides. Kenyan Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has warned that heavy rainfall exacerbates the danger in vulnerable areas like the Kerio Valley.
As recovery efforts are underway, reports indicate that 14 schoolchildren are among the deceased, deepening the tragedy for the affected communities. Survivors, such as Helda Narunga Masai, have recounted terrifying moments before the mudslides devastated their homes.
The Ugandan government has pledged 5 million shillings to bereaved families and compensation for survivors, while calls are growing for the Kenyan government to follow suit with similar support.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, experts reiterate the importance of caution in landslide-prone areas to prevent future tragedies.
