Woman attacked and killed by elephant in Meru
A 40-year-old woman was killed after being attacked by an elephant in Meru County on Wednesday, police said.
The incident occurred at Rikiau Village in Igembe Central Sub-County.
Police identified the victim as Flora Nkatha. She was reportedly working on her farm when the elephant attacked her.
Members of the public responded and rescued her before rushing her to Guardian Hospital for treatment.
However, she succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.
Her body was later moved to Nyambene Hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.
Cases of human-wildlife conflict remain common in parts of Meru and other regions bordering wildlife habitats, with residents often reporting attacks on farms and homesteads by elephants and other wild animals.
Police and officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service visited the scene and advised her family to file for compensation.
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 communityâled 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.