Rachel Ruto, Murkomen Hand Over 55 Houses to Chesongoch Landslide Victims

By Mercy Jepchirchir

First Lady Rachel Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have presided over the handover of 55 newly constructed houses to families displaced by the devastating 2025 landslides in Chesongoch, Marakwet East, Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

The handover ceremony, held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, marks a major milestone in efforts to resettle families whose homes were destroyed by heavy rains that triggered landslides and flash floods in the area.

For months, the affected families lived in temporary tents as they struggled to rebuild their lives following the disaster. The newly constructed houses offer them an opportunity to settle in safer areas, away from landslide-prone zones.

The housing project was implemented through a partnership involving the national government, the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Elgeyo-Marakwet County Government.

During the ceremony, First Lady Rachel Ruto handed over keys to the new homeowners alongside essential relief supplies. She also comforted the affected families and assured them of continued government support as they recover from the disaster.

“What happened was unfortunate. The government will continue supporting you, not only today but also in the days to come, to ensure such an incident does not happen again,” Rachel Ruto said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that all genuine victims receive the necessary assistance and that the resettlement process is completed.

Murkomen said his ministry would expedite the final tracking and verification of affected households to ensure that those who genuinely suffered losses are identified and supported.

“We are completely committed to ensuring everyone affected is fully taken care of. My ministry will oversee that final tracking and verification are expedited within a month or two so that the real victims get closure, while guarding strictly against fraudulent claims,” Murkomen said.

The government said the completion of Phase One of the housing project was an important step towards restoring stability and dignity to families who lost their homes during the landslides.

Plans are now underway for Phase Two of the project, which is expected to extend resettlement support to additional affected families.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to help communities affected by natural disasters rebuild their lives while prioritising safer settlements in areas vulnerable to landslides and flash floods.