The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has extended its condolences to the families affected by the recent landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet County and called for urgent, coordinated national measures to curb Kenya’s growing vulnerability to such disasters.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, ISK President Eric Nyadimo said the tragedy underscores major gaps in the country’s disaster preparedness and land management systems, despite early warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
“It is regrettable that despite the early warnings issued, lives were still lost due to limited evacuation planning, poor infrastructure, and the absence of designated temporary shelters for residents in high-risk zones,” said Nyadimo.
According to data from the National Disaster Operations Centre and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kenya has recorded more than 120 landslide incidents over the past decade, with Elgeyo Marakwet among the top five most vulnerable counties.
ISK attributed the increasing frequency and severity of landslides to deforestation, unplanned settlements, and unsustainable land use, warning that the continuous clearing of forests for farming and habitation is weakening soil stability and destabilizing slopes.
While commending the government’s National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign, which aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, ISK emphasized that reforestation efforts must be supported by stronger enforcement of land-use and settlement regulations.
To mitigate future disasters, the institution recommended several key measures:
* Mapping and zoning of all landslide-prone areas using detailed geospatial data.
* Strict enforcement of land-use and settlement controls by county governments.
* Operationalization of early warning systems and establishment of evacuation shelters.
* Restoration of forests and catchment areas through reforestation and anti-logging initiatives.
* Community awareness campaigns to empower residents in vulnerable regions.
Nyadimo reaffirmed ISK’s commitment to working with the national and county governments, development partners, and local communities to promote sustainable land management and disaster risk reduction.
“We must treat this tragedy as a wake-up call to prioritize environmental conservation, proactive planning, and responsible land use, not only to honour the lives lost but to prevent such avoidable disasters in the future,” he said.
