Grief has engulfed the Aitong area near the
Maasai Mara National Reserve, in Narok West Sub County after an 11-year-old
girl was killed by elephants while on her way to school.
Narok County Police Commander Riko Ngare
confirmed the incident saying the juvenile was a grade three pupil at Rekero Primary School.
“The scene was visited by police officers and
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from the Aitong patrol base who moved the
remains of the girl to Narok County Referral Hospital Mortuary,” he said.
Following the incidents, the residents have
called on the government to intervene and confine the wild animals to the
controlled areas to avoid more deaths.
Emily Kipetu, a resident of the area, said a
similar incident had occurred a day earlier where a herdsman was killed by a
rogue elephant while looking after the cattle.
“We suspect there is a rogue elephant roaming
around that has caused the death. We ask the KWS officers to intervene before
we lose another person,” she said.
There are approximately 2,500 elephants at the
Maasai Mara Game Reserve and during dry seasons, the large animals roam in
search of grass and water.
Residents are advised to exercise caution
while herding, collecting firewood or going to farms in bushy areas to avoid
conflict with wild animals.
Victims of Human-Wildlife conflict have a right to seek compensation for loss of life, injury or damage to property.
