Stray elephant face-off with pilot in Kericho

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) deployed a helicopter to Chesumot area to drive away a male elephant that had strayed from Mau forest into farms lands in Kipkelion East constituency. 

While on the ground, KWS officers had a difficult time trying to control the huge crowd that had formed, some of whom were seeing the elephant up and close for the first time.

Michelle Chepkoech could not miss the moment and would at some point take videos using her mobile phone.

"This is the first time to lay my eyes on an elephant. It's a magnificent animal. I am so excited," she said.

Ian Kibet from Mau Tea area said he was at his home when the elephant passed by.

"We were so scared and excited at the same time. The elephant is so huge. Bigger than I have ever seen on television. The colour is even slightly different," he said.

Nelson Kiprotich from Chesumot said they were plucking tea when the elephant emerged from the forest.

"We abandoned the tea plucking immediately and fled to safety. We thank Kenya Forest Service for driving the elephant back into the forest," he said.

A scared Kiprotich asked the government to ensure that elephants do not stray out of the forest in future.