Lion Attack in Nairobi and Elephant Trampling in Nyeri Leave Two Dead

A series of human-wildlife conflicts in Kenya resulted in two fatalities over the weekend. 

A 14-year-old girl in Nairobi and a 54-year-old man in Nyeri County were killed in separate incidents involving a lion and an elephant, respectively, prompting urgent calls for enhanced safety measures and conflict mitigation strategies. On Sunday evening, Peace Mwendwa, a Grade 7 student, was attacked and killed by a lion at Savannah Ranch, a residential area bordering Nairobi National Park. According to her father, Kennedy Kigen, the lion gained access to their compound by jumping over a makeshift fence. 

The predator targeted the children, dragging Peace from her home. Despite immediate efforts by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers, they could not locate the animal in time to save the girl. Peace was found dead near the Mbagathi River, with severe injuries to her lower back. The KWS issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy and detailing their efforts to capture the lion through traps and search teams. The agency has also committed to enhancing security measures to prevent future incidents. 

However, residents are demanding immediate action, including the erection of an electric fence along wildlife corridors from Kitengela to Kajiado, to safeguard their communities. Before this incident, on Friday, a 54-year-old herder was fatally trampled by an elephant in Mere Forest, Kieni East Sub-county, Nyeri. The man, who was grazing livestock at the time, sustained severe chest injuries and internal trauma. He was rushed to Karatina Sub-county Hospital but succumbed to his injuries despite medical intervention. 

Local police and KWS officers have processed the scene and begun investigations. KWS has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with law enforcement and local communities to enhance safety measures in areas near wildlife habitats. The aftermath of the lion attack has revealed harrowing details from the victim's family. According to Kennedy Kigen, the family searched for his daughter throughout the night. 

The family and community members ultimately discovered Peace’s body, which had been largely consumed by the animal. The country's wildlife reserves and parks, renowned for their biodiversity, increasingly pose challenges due to their proximity to human populations. Human-wildlife interactions are further influenced by broader environmental and economic factors, including habitat fragmentation, urbanisation, and grazing pressures.