Elephant kills man in Taita Taveta

An elephant attacked and killed a herdsman in an incident at a ranch in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County.

Police said the victim was identified as Hassan Hoshow, 48, and was a herdsman in Mwananchi Ranch.

He was herding his cattle on the ranch when he was confronted by an elephant and killed. His body, with fractured legs and arms, was found on the ground. The wild animal had escaped by the time other herders responded on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

The police and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel visited the scene and announced they had opened an investigation into the same.

The family was advised to file for compensation for the death. This is the latest such incident of human-wildlife conflict to be reported amid efforts to address the menace.

In May 2025, Kenya introduced the third phase of its Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme, an initiative aimed at addressing these incidents and supporting affected families.

During its launch at Meru National Park, President William Ruto unveiled the innovative Wildlife Conservation Card, a new tool designed to help fund conservation efforts.

“Compensation is justice, but prevention is progress,” Ruto said, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.

“Through the Conservation Card, fencing, and community‑led tourism, we are turning conflict into opportunity,” he added.

Developed in partnership with KCB Bank, the Wildlife Conservation Card is available in three tiers—Platinum (Elephant), Gold (Lion), and Silver (Cheetah).

A portion of every transaction made with the card (Sh10, Sh5, and Sh3, respectively) goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund.

The initiative aims to enable Kenyans and international supporters to contribute to wildlife conservation while fostering economic benefits for local communities.

With this new approach, Kenya hopes to build a future where humans and wildlife can coexist more safely and sustainably.