A 35-year-old man was trampled to death after stray elephants raided a camping site at the Dokata private game range in Samburu subcounty of Kwale.
The man was attacked at the camp and sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a health facility in Mackinon township along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
The deceased was later transferred to Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi, Taita Taveta County.
Confirming the unfortunate incident, Samburu Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Patrick Kilonzo said the elephants are believed to have strayed from the neighboring Tsavo East National Park due to the prevailing dry spell.
DCC Kilonzi explained that lack of water and pasture has forced elephants out of the park and into surrounding areas in search of water.
Kilonzi added that guidelines have been put in place by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), rangers and security agencies to protect local residents from the threat posed by the stray animals.
“KWS officers in Mackinon Township have already requested a helicopter to assist in driving the elephants back into the Tsavo National Park, since many of them have moved into settlements in search of water,” Kilonzo said.
He said the name of the man will be released once his next of kin are informed and advised residents not to confront stray elephants because they can become highly aggressive, posing a serious risk of injury or death to humans.
The DCC noted that the presence of elephants near homesteads continues to endanger human life, especially in areas bordering Tsavo East National Park.
He revealed that sensitization meetings have been conducted to urge residents to report immediately when they sight elephants or other wild animals.
Authorities have also encouraged locals to avoid approaching the animals on their own. Plans are also underway to hold public meetings where residents will be educated on safety measures and the importance of cooperation with wildlife and security officers in order to minimize risks.
Kilonzo emphasized that joint efforts between the community, security teams and conservation agencies are necessary to address the human-wildlife conflict that has intensified during the dry season.
Residents in Kwale have long raised concerns about the threat posed by elephants wandering into farmlands and settlements. Many claim the animals have been damaging crops, property and asked KWS for adequate intervention.
The administrator advised the family of the victim to file a compensation claim with the KWS.
The national government has launched several initiatives and phased compensation payments for human-wildlife conflict (HWC) victims, including the rollout of a compensation scheme by President William Ruto in April 2025 and ongoing payments of billions of shillings to address a backlog of claims from previous years.
The incident comes barely a week after a 25-year-old woman was trampled to death by a herd of elephants in Musaroni village, Vigurungani, Kinango Sub County of Kwale County.
By Hussein Abdullahi and Rachael Nzioki
