Photo: Courtesy
Baringo — A somber mood enveloped Kasisit village in Baringo North as a family buried four of their loved ones.
Zakayo Ruto’s family tragically perished in a landslide that buried them alive following heavy rains in parts of Tugen Hills.
The man lost his wife, two children, and a nephew, leaving him at a loss for words as he faced the daunting challenge of life without his loved ones.
Ruto sat quietly as speaker after speaker eulogized his family, promising their support during this difficult time.
His 14-year-old daughter is the sole survivor of the tragedy, which has left locals in shock.
Family and friends were seen in tears as the coffins were removed from the hearse and placed under a tent in the compound.
Local leaders also attended the emotional burial, urging residents to relocate from riparian areas to ensure their safety.
How did Zakayo Ruto’s family perish
In the night of Tuesday, August 6, several homes were swept away by the landslide. Initially, reports indicated that two people had been killed.
Benson Amdany Sumukwo from Saimo location revealed that the tragedy struck in the middle of the night.
According to the police at Kabartonjo Police Station on Wednesday, August 7, three homes had been swept away.
The area chief reported that three men were missing following the incident, while four others had been rescued. Among those swept away from one of the homes were Zakayo Ruto, his wife Gladys Chepkangor, and their 13-year-old son.
Zakayo expressed his grief, saying,
“Nilimpoteza mama, kijana mdogo na mwengine alikuwa Form One. Naskia uchungu sana” (I lost my wife, my youngest son, and another who was in Form One. I feel a lot of pain).
How many people died in the Mathioya landslide?
Elsewhere, a devastating tragedy struck Kiganjo village in Gitugi ward, Mathioya constituency, following increased rainfall across the country.
On Monday, April 29, landslides destroyed three houses, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals, with two others still unaccounted for.
The disaster buried families and their livestock under the debris, exacerbating the horror of the situation.
The relentless heavy rains had compromised the structural integrity of the houses, leading to their collapse.
Emergency response teams from the Murang’a county government and the Kenya Red Cross quickly launched a rescue operation at the disaster site.
Meanwhile, two survivors were transported to a medical facility for urgent treatment, underscoring the severity of the incident.
