Lion kills 11-year-old boy in Kilifi

Police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials are investigating claims an 11-year-old boy was killed by a lion in Chanjalo area, Magarini, Kilifi County, as he walked home after attending a football match.

The victim, identified as Kelvin Amani, a Grade Four pupil at Chanjalo Comprehensive School, was attacked on a footpath at about 7:40am on Sunday.

According to police, the lion attacked and dismembered the boy, leaving a pool of blood on the path before dragging him into nearby bushes. The animal reportedly fed on parts of his body before moving deeper into the bush with the remains.

A team of police officers and Kenya Wildlife Service officers from Kilifi, led by the warden, visited the scene.

The teams processed the scene and recovered the mutilated remains of the boy deep in the bush.

The remains were moved to Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending preservation and autopsy.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with wildlife officers expected to establish the whereabouts of the lion.

Such cases are rare and have been classified as human-wildlife conflict.

Officials have urged the family of the deceased to seek compensation.

Authorities have been running campaigns to address the conflict and anger surrounding the same.

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.