CS Rebecca Miano did not know that her hurry to mourn the victims of the Elgeyo Marakwet landslide could land her in hot water.
This comes after the Tourism Cabinet Secretary shared a photo allegedly taken in Peru while expressing her condolences to the victims of the deadly landslide that struck Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The blunder quickly caught the attention of Kenyans online, including lawyer and political analyst Willis Otieno, who ridiculed the CS for what he termed “a complete disconnect from the realities on the ground.”
The Peru landslide photo that CS Miano used.
Willis Otieno Takes a Swipe
Speaking on Sunday, Otieno slammed Miano for what he described as an embarrassing display of ignorance from a senior government official tasked with promoting Kenya’s tourism.
“A whole Cabinet Secretary for Tourism can’t tell the difference between Peru and Elgeyo Marakwet, even when the latter is literally in mourning after a landslide. How do you represent a country you can’t even recognise on the map?” Otieno posed on his X account.
The lawyer went further to question the leadership’s sensitivity, saying such mistakes show how detached some public officials have become from the people they serve.
Lawyer Willis Evans Otieno during a past function
“When Kenyans were counting bodies and comforting survivors, she was probably checking if Machu Picchu was in Keiyo South. If tourism depended on her geography, we’d be marketing Kericho as the Bahamas,” he added.
Landslide Leaves Families Devastated
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the landslide, triggered by heavy overnight rains, left many residents injured and several others unaccounted for.
Families in Moror and Chesongoch have been displaced, and emergency teams are still on the ground assisting victims and assessing the extent of damage.
“A landslide following heavy overnight rains has hit Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre, Elgeyo Marakwet County, leaving many people injured,” the humanitarian agency confirmed in a post on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
The incident adds to a worrying trend of weather-related disasters that have continued to wreak havoc in various counties across the country.
CS for Tourism Rebbeca Miano arrives in Karen home for the DP. Photo: K24 TV Source: Facebook
Public Outcry Over Leadership Disconnect
Miano’s photo blunder has reignited public debate about government responsiveness and awareness. Many Kenyans online accused leaders of showing more interest in maintaining appearances on social media than addressing the actual plight of victims.
As rescue and relief operations continue, dozens of affected families are now seeking temporary shelter, with humanitarian groups warning of worsening conditions if the rains persist.
For now, the Tourism CS remains at the centre of public ridicule, a controversy that could have easily been avoided with just a little more attention to detail.
