The Kenya Air Force will embark on delivery of foods and other essentials from Eldoret to victims of the mudslide which occurred along Endo and Chesogon areas along the Elgeyo Marakwet-West Pokot boundaries on Saturday.
In a statement, the Government Spokesperson, Cyrus Oguna, said the government had dispatched assorted food stuff, including 600 50kg bags of rice, 100 25kg bags of corn-soya blend ujimix, cooking oil and 200 basins.
According to the statement, the food will be distributed equally to the 493 households affected with 350 in West Pokot and 143 in Elgeyo Marakwet.
The Spokesman said five police officers and two civilians had been airlifted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment while 13 others were treated and discharged.
The Rift Valley Regional Coordinator, George Natembeya said a Command Centre had been set-up at Sambalat Primary School and Cheptulel Secondary School in the respective counties to coordinate rescue and relief mission, adding that the two County Commissioners would lead the activities.
Natembeya who toured the area, yesterday, added that Liter Girls Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet was completely destroyed by the mudslides caused by heavy rains which pounded the Marakwet East highlands on Saturday afternoon.
The destruction left four people dead, three from Elgeyo Marakwet and one from West Pokot County while 24 others are still missing, including a police officer.
The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, called on the government to seek alternative resettlement for people living along the escarpment to provide a permanent solution to the problem of landslides in the area.
Murkomen said people who were evicted from Embobut forest settled along the escarpment where they have been undertaking agricultural activities leading to such disasters, saying the area should be afforested.
Natembeya said over 40 households were swept away leaving over 4,000 residents homeless.
Residents narrated how they lost all their property and called on the government to come to their assistance.
Eliud Rotino, a victim, said he used to operate a shop which was destroyed by huge boulders before being swept away by the raging floods.
By Alice Wanjiru
