First Lady Rachel Ruto is received by NYS CommandantGeneralJamesTemburin Chesongoch on October 21, 2026/PCS

Residents of Chesongoch in Elgeyo-Marakwet County have received 53 houses built for families displaced by last year's landslide, offering the affected households permanent shelter as they rebuild their lives.

The families lost their homes when heavy rains triggered a landslide in the Kerio Valley on November 1, 2025. They have since endured months of uncertainty as they sought shelter and recovered from the disaster.

On Wednesday, the completion and handover of the houses marked a new phase for the affected households, providing them with permanent shelter.

The 53 houses are part of 55 units constructed by the National Youth Service (NYS), with the remaining two expected to be handed over later.

Each unit comprises two bedrooms, a living room, a separate kitchen and a toilet.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, First Lady Rachel Ruto described the occasion as the beginning of a new chapter for the affected community, stressing the importance of peace, stability and collective support in rebuilding lives.

"The handover of these houses marks an important step in restoring hope, dignity and stability to families as they rebuild their lives," she said.

She reaffirmed the government's commitment to restoring the dignity of families affected by the disaster and helping them regain secure and dignified livelihoods.

The ceremony was attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, NYS Council chairman Adan Mulata, NYS Commandant General James Tembur, Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, local leaders and representatives of corporate organisations.

For the NYS, the housing project represents the next phase of its intervention in Chesongoch following its involvement in emergency operations after the landslide.

Mulata said the Service was among the first responders when the disaster struck on the morning of November 1, participating in search-and-rescue operations and helping open access roads to allow emergency teams and humanitarian agencies to reach affected families.

The Service later deployed its technical expertise and workforce to construct permanent houses, extending its emergency response into a longer-term effort to help survivors rebuild their lives.

The project was undertaken in collaboration with the national and county governments, professionals from the area, corporate organisations and other partners.

Construction faced logistical challenges, particularly in accessing the site and transporting building materials, delaying completion beyond the initial six-month timeline.

The landslide occurred after torrential rainfall triggered a massive flow of mud, rocks and debris down the Elgeyo Escarpment, sweeping through Chesongoch and surrounding settlements in Endo Ward.

More than 39 people were confirmed dead, while hundreds of families were displaced after their homes were destroyed. Many survivors sought temporary shelter at facilities, including Chesongoch Primary School, as rescue and relief operations continued.

The disaster also disrupted livelihoods and left families struggling to establish where they would live after the immediate emergency.

The new houses are expected to ease that burden by giving beneficiaries a more secure foundation from which to restore their livelihoods and rebuild their lives.

The NYS commended the affected families and local community for their resilience and cooperation throughout the recovery process, while recognising the contribution of government agencies, corporate organisations and development partners.

The Service said it remained committed to supporting communities through national service, technical expertise, emergency response and development initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods.

The handover of 53 houses marks a milestone in the housing project, with the completion of the remaining two units expected to conclude the first phase.

Some of the houses constructed by NYS for landslide survivors in Chesongoch/COURTESY

NYS Council chairman Adan Mulata with Commandant General James Tembur in Chesongoch/COURTESY

NYS Assistant Commandant General in charge of Buildings Philip Koech during the handover of houses/NYS