Protests as 71- year-old Laikipia man is trampled to death by an elephant

A 71-year-old man was Thursday trampled to death by an elephant at Marmanet area in Laikipia West prompting protests by residents.

The man Richard Kinyua becomes the second victim in the recent past after a Kenya Wildlife Service officer was killed by an elephant at Rumuruti forest a month ago.

Another woman Millicent Wangui is recuperating at home after she was also attacked a week ago.

During Thursday’s incident, the deceased, a former head teacher at Kinguti primary school was killed in his home compound after several elephants invaded his home.

According to Marmanet ward MCA Simon Kanyutu, he had tried to chase away the animals when one of them attacked him from behind.

“It was around 5 am when the animals invaded his potato farm. One of the elephants attacked him from behind killing him on the spot,” he said.

He noted that the animals are believed to be from the nearby Rumuruti forest and have been terrorising residents for the last three months.

“We have complained to the relevant authorities and yet no action is being taken. For how long will we be losing innocent lives as a result of attacks by animals,” he complained.

Mr Kanyutu regretted that no compensation has since been done to the residents who have lost their relatives and farm produce.

“The Deputy President William Ruto in his recent tour promised that we would be paid and yet nothing has been done. People have lost crops worth millions of shillings and yet no one has been compensated,” he said.

Contacted, Nyahururu KWS senior warden Jacob Orahale said that more officers had been deployed on the ground to chase away the elephants.

He assured residents that things will come to normalcy once an electric fence being constructed around the forest was complete.