Woman killed by stray buffalo while taking baby to clinic

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers in West Pokot were forced to kill a buffalo after it attacked and killed a woman who was on her way to the clinic on Saturday afternoon.

According to KWS Senior Warden Hamisi Amulavu the stray buffalo migrated from Uganda to Chepasacha Village in West Pokot County where it destroyed maize plantation.

The woman identified as Chepokugho Ngolerongan was gored to death but her baby was found unscathed.

“The body was moved to Kapenguria County Hospital mortuary. The baby was taken to hospital for treatment. The Buffalo was traced later by KWS officers and killed,” he said.

Amulavu said the stray buffalo migrated to Suam, West Pokot due to cold weather in Uganda.

He advised locals to be alert in case they spot any rogue wildlife animals and report to the authorities.

Locals feasted on the buffalo meat after it was killed ignoring a warning from KWS against eating wild meat.

One of the locals Moses Lotukon said the buffalo didn't hurt the seven months old girl-child.

“It killed the woman but the child is safe. The woman was taking her baby to the clinic when she met the buffalo on the way,” he said.

He said a passer-by found unharmed seven-month-old girl in the bush next to a lifeless body of her mother as the buffalo was spotted some few metres away.

“The woman was taking her baby girl to the hospital while the other twin baby boy had been left at home. Her eyes were gouged out and it broke her legs and hands.  Fortunately, the baby girl was not hurt,” he said.

He said that after the KWS officers killed the buffalo and elated locals skinned the buffalo and shared the meat.

“We scrambled for the meat. Previously the buffalo had been spotted chasing kids who were herding cows. We are happy the KWS officers responded immediately and killed the buffalo. We can now sleep without worries,” he said.