Survivors Recall Sudden Destruction and Widespread Devastation
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled a KSh14.7 billion environmental restoration programme aimed at reversing severe ecological degradation in the Cherangany Hills ecosystem. The initiative follows the deadly Chesongoch landslides in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, which claimed at least 26 lives and left several others missing.
The disaster struck on October 31, 2025, when hours of heavy rainfall triggered fast-moving landslides that swept through homes, farms, and valley settlements in Chesongoch. As a result, survivors experienced sudden destruction after conditions shifted rapidly from normal rainfall to a full-scale emergency.
One survivor, Mathias Jelimo, described how the situation escalated within minutes. He explained that the valley fell eerily silent around 9 p.m. before the landslides struck. Moments later, roaring mudslides and floodwaters rushed downhill, forcing residents to flee in darkness.
Meanwhile, communities struggled to respond as roads collapsed and access to medical facilities was cut off. Residents quickly organized rescue efforts, pulled neighbours from debris, and converted nearby schools into emergency shelters. By morning, they found flattened homes, destroyed farms, and heavily reshaped landscapes across the valley.
Survivors in Chesongoch Recall Sudden Destruction and Widespread Devastation
Following the tragedy, residents highlighted long-term environmental damage as a major contributing factor. They pointed to deforestation, riverbank cultivation, and encroachment into forest areas, which weakened the soil structure and increased landslide risks. Jelimo emphasized that declining forest cover left slopes exposed and highly vulnerable to erosion.
In response, the government launched the Cherangany Hills Ecosystem Restoration for Livelihood Improvement, Sustainability and Harmony (CHERISH) programme. The 10-year plan targets the rehabilitation of more than 62,000 hectares of degraded land across the ecosystem.
Murkomen will serve as patron of the initiative and has stressed that rising climate-related disasters must be treated as both an environmental and national security concern. He further noted that degradation threatens water security, livelihoods, and regional stability across the Kerio Valley and surrounding areas.
Government Launches KSh14.7 Billion CHERISH Restoration Programme After Chesongoch Tragedy
Additionally, the programme will restore forest cover, protect water towers, rehabilitate riparian zones, and promote sustainable livelihoods such as agroforestry, eco-tourism, and beekeeping. It also supports Kenyaβs broader goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
The government is expected to formally launch the CHERISH programme in Kapyego, Marakwet East, on May 21, 2026, through a large-scale indigenous tree-planting exercise involving the Sengwer community, which has backed the conservation effort.
Finally, survivors in Chesongoch have expressed cautious optimism, saying the initiative could help prevent future disasters if fully implemented. Jelimo added that the tragedy has reshaped community attitudes, linking environmental protection directly to survival.
