Two people have been confirmed dead in Kipkenda Village, Keiyo North Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, after a huge boulder rolled down and crushed a house.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at night, instantly claimed the lives of a grandmother and a child.
Confirming the tragedy on Monday, 03 November 2025, the acting County Commissioner, Julius Maiyo, said the rock struck the house at around 8:00 pm. The deceased were identified as a grandmother and a grade five pupil.
“Even the child was found holding ugali in their hands when the body was being retrieved,” Maiyo stated.
Commissioner Maiyo noted that the family was having their evening meal when the incident occurred.
It took residents and first responders nine hours to remove the rock and retrieve the two bodies.
An additional child who sustained serious injuries is currently recuperating at the Iten County Referral Hospital.
Survivor narrates ordeal
Speaking to K24 digital, Benzon Chemweno, the father and a survivor, recounted the moments before the disaster. He said that minutes after finishing his meal and walking toward his bedroom, a smaller rock first passed and struck a corner of the house. As he stepped out to investigate, a huge boulder rolled toward the kitchen house
Chemweno managed to rush to the other side just as the rock crushed the kitchen, claiming the lives of his mother and grandchild.
Barnaba Kiplagat, a village resident, highlighted the difficulty of the rescue efforts.
“We tried retrieving the two bodies for almost nine hours due to the heavy rocks, which took a long time to remove,” he said.
Kiplagat urged the government to intervene and assist the family, noting that the disaster resulted in total loss.
“This family has lost everything; food in the store is gone, and even sheep are still under the rock,” he pleaded.
Elgeyo Marakwet leaders, led by Governor Wesley Rotich and Keiyo North Member of Parliament (MP), Adams Kipsanai, have unanimously urged residents to stay vigilant and move to safer grounds to avoid more fatalities.
MP Kipsanai emphasised the need for people living in high-riskareas to prioritize their lives.
“We must prioritize life before talking about property,” Kipsanai said.
He further stated that they will engage the government to find a long-lasting solution for residents living in high-risk zones.
The two bodies are currently being preserved at the Iten County Referral Hospital Mortuary.
