Kenya has announced plans to airlift examination papers to schools in Marakwet East and Kerio Valley that have been rendered inaccessible following the recent landslides that have devastated parts of the county.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen disclosed that 15 schools in the affected regions can no longer be reached by road due to the destruction of infrastructure and continued heavy rainfall.

Murkomen said 25 people are still missing and that the government had intensified the search mission, with the military deploying four aircrafts to help teams access the area that has been completely cut off after roads were washed away during Saturday’s landslide.

He assured parents, teachers and candidates that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has already made arrangements to ensure national examinations proceed without interruption.

“We are committed to ensuring that every child sitting for their national examinations will do so, regardless of the current challenges,” said Murkomen. “KNEC has made special arrangements to airlift examination papers to the affected schools to guarantee that no learner is disadvantaged.”

Murkomen noted that security and disaster response teams are working around the clock to open access roads, restore communication lines and provide emergency relief to displaced families. He further revealed that chiefs and assistant chiefs in the affected wards are actively sensitizing residents to move to safer grounds to prevent further loss of life.

“Chiefs and assistant chiefs in the affected wards are continuing to create awareness residents to move to safer grounds,” he said, urging the public to heed evacuation advisories issued by the local administration and disaster response units.

The cabinet secretary appealed to local leaders, humanitarian agencies and well-wishers to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts as rains continue to pound the region.

The landslides, which have already claimed several lives and left dozens missing, have severely disrupted transport and education in parts of Endo and Embobut-Embolot Wards.

Residents are now calling for urgent intervention to prevent further tragedies as forecasts indicate continued heavy rainfall in the coming days.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Rennish Okong’o

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking in Chesongoch, Kerio Valley on Sunday