This archive report was first published on 18 July 2021.
On July 18, 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Mosiro, Kajiado West, where a rogue elephant was shot dead by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers.
The elephant had earlier killed a man and became agitated, charging at the KWS officers who were trying to relocate it.
County Warden Vincent Ongwae confirmed the incident, stating that the officers had to put down the elephant to prevent more fatalities.
‘Our officers had to put down the elephant in Mosiro area which had earlier killed a man and turned against the officers who tried to relocate it by charging at them. It is unfortunate it had to be brought down but we had no other option to avoid more fatalities,’ said Ongwae.
Human-wildlife conflict is a common occurrence in Kajiado, which is surrounded by three national parks: Nairobi, Amboseli, and Tsavo.
Wild animals often come into contact with humans during prolonged seasons of drought, as they change their migration patterns in search of water.
According to Ongwae, KWS has implemented strategies to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including de-siltation of water pans and drilling of boreholes along migratory corridors.
