By Robert Mutasi 
First Lady Rachel Ruto has handed over 53 houses to families displaced by the deadly landslide that struck Chesongoch in Elgeyo-Marakwet County in November 2025.
The handover, conducted on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, marks a major step in the resettlement of families who lost their homes and livelihoods following heavy rains that triggered landslides in the Kerio Valley region.
Rachel was accompanied by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich during the ceremony in Chesongoch, Marakwet East.
The disaster claimed more than 30 lives and left several families homeless, prompting emergency rescue operations and a coordinated recovery effort involving the national government, the county administration, the National Youth Service (NYS) and other partners.
Speaking during the handover, the First Lady said the new homes would help affected families rebuild their lives after months of uncertainty.
She described the project as a renewed opportunity for survivors to regain stability following the loss of family members, property and sources of livelihood.
“The handover of 53 houses to families affected by the devastating October 2025 mudslide in Chesongoch marks a renewed chapter of hope after a tragedy that claimed more than 30 lives and destroyed homes and livelihoods,” Rachel said.
She added that the recovery programme would extend beyond housing to create opportunities for women and young people through community development initiatives.
The First Lady also presided over the launch of plans for a Chesongoch Resource Centre and an information and communication technology (ICT) hub. The facilities are expected to improve access to learning, digital skills and other economic opportunities for residents.
The resource centre is planned to include a modern library, an ICT village hub and a social hall.
Governor Rotich said the housing initiative had delivered 55 units across the affected areas, including two houses previously handed over to families in Kibendo, Emsoo Ward.
He thanked Kenyans, development partners and professionals from Elgeyo-Marakwet who contributed to the recovery programme, saying the intervention would help affected families regain their dignity.
Murkomen described the resettlement effort as part of the wider government response to disasters affecting communities in the Kerio Valley.
He also said the government, working with the First Lady’s foundation and other partners, was pursuing environmental restoration measures aimed at improving safety and sustainability in the region.
The housing project was implemented through a partnership involving the national and county governments, the NYS, local professionals, corporate organisations and other well-wishers.
The NYS played a central role in the construction of the homes after participating in rescue operations and other emergency interventions following the landslide.
The tragedy struck after torrential rainfall triggered a flow of mud, rocks and debris through Chesongoch and neighbouring settlements, destroying homes and disrupting livelihoods.
The completion of the houses provides permanent shelter for the beneficiaries, although the wider recovery effort will also require sustained support to help families restore their incomes and rebuild their lives.
Authorities have continued to urge residents living in landslide-prone areas to move to safer locations to reduce the risk of further loss of life and property.
The handover marks a new phase in the recovery of the Chesongoch community, with housing, environmental safety and access to economic opportunities expected to remain central to efforts to rebuild the affected area.