Fear has gripped Ganze in Kilifi County following the death of a 17-year-old boy who was killed by an elephant while herding livestock, with the number of people reportedly killed by the animals in the area rising to more than 10.
The latest fatal attack has renewed calls for urgent government intervention, with the victim’s family accusing the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) of failing to adequately protect communities living in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict.
Suleiman Dube, the deceased’s family spokesperson, condemned the recurring elephant attacks and urged the government, through KWS, to take decisive measures to prevent further loss of life.
Dube warned that residents could resort to taking the law into their own hands if the elephants were not brought under control and returned to their designated habitat.
His concerns were echoed by the victim’s uncle, Sagabo Guyole, who accused KWS of negligence, arguing that the continued attacks had left residents vulnerable to fatal encounters with the wild animals.
According to the family, the 17-year-old was herding livestock when he was attacked and killed.
The latest incident has intensified concerns over the safety of residents in Ganze, with the family calling for urgent action to prevent further deaths.
The allegations against KWS and the reported death toll underscore growing tensions over human-wildlife conflict in the area.
