NYS personnel put final touches on one of the houses at Chesongoch, Elgeyo-Marakwet, ahead of officials' handover/NYSThe houses, whose construction began in January this year, are in their final stages, with workers putting finishing touches ahead of an official handover scheduled for next week.
National Youth Service (NYS) Commandant General James Tembur is expected to preside over the handover alongside other senior national and county government officials.
Under the first phase of the project, each house comprises two bedrooms, a living room, a separate kitchen and a toilet, providing permanent accommodation for the affected families.
The project is being implemented through a partnership between the NYS, the Elgeyo-Marakwet County government and teams of professionals drawn from the area.
NYS Assistant Commandant General in charge of Buildings, Philip Koech, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the houses, saying they would provide safe and permanent shelter to families affected by the disaster.
“We are satisfied that the houses are now complete and will provide safe and permanent shelter to families affected by the Chesongoch landslide. This is an important step towards restoring their dignity and helping them rebuild their lives after the tragedy,” Koech said.
He said the project had taken longer than initially expected because of logistical challenges, particularly accessing the construction site and transporting building materials.
“We had anticipated completing the construction in six months, but due to challenges, which include transporting materials, there were delays,” Koech said.
He thanked the project partners for their collaboration and the local community for its cooperation throughout the construction period.
Koech said the initiative was part of a broader government effort to restore livelihoods and provide safe shelter to families affected by the disaster. He also urged residents to conserve the environment, particularly by planting trees, to protect the fragile landscape and reduce risks associated with environmental degradation.
A committee comprising village elders and national government administrative officers selected the households to benefit from the resettlement project.
Chesongoch was thrust into the national spotlight on October 31 and November 1, 2025, when torrential rainfall triggered a deadly landslide and debris flow in Endo Ward and surrounding parts of the Kerio Valley.
The disaster sent massive rocks, mud and debris down the Elgeyo Escarpment, sweeping through settlements and leaving widespread destruction.
More than 39 people were confirmed dead, while dozens of others were injured or initially reported missing. Hundreds of families were displaced after their homes were destroyed, forcing residents to seek temporary shelter at facilities, including Chesongoch Primary School.
The loss of homes compounded the grief and disruption faced by affected families, many of whom were left uncertain about their future.
The completion of the first 55 houses marks a step towards addressing the housing needs of some of the displaced households. The resettlement is expected to provide beneficiary families with a more secure place to rebuild their lives and plan for the future.
With the official handover approaching, attention is turning to the families who will occupy the houses as the wider recovery effort continues.
A cleric helps lay the foundation stone during the launch of the project in January 2026/NYS
NYS Assistant Commandant General in charge of Buildings Philip Koech with other officials and residents during an engagement in November 2025/NYS
NYS personnel put final touches on one of the houses/NYS
NYS officials during an inspection of the construction works in July 2026/NYS
NYS Assistant Commandant General in charge of Buildings Philip Koech inspects the project ahead of its handover in November 2025/NYS
NYS Assistant Commandant General in charge of Buildings Philip Koech with other officers ahead of the launch of the construction process/NYS
