A teacher lost his life on Monday after being attacked by an elephant while attempting to photograph the animal in Miti Tatu village, Kipkelion, Kericho County.
The tragic incident occurred as two elephants wandered through the village, attracting the attention of hundreds of curious onlookers.
Eyewitnesses reported that the teacher, who was among the crowd, tried to capture a close-up shot of one of the elephants when it suddenly charged at him.
In a desperate bid to escape, the teacher attempted to run but was quickly caught by the enraged elephant.
The animal tossed him into the air and trampled him upon landing, killing him instantly.
A nearby primary school pupil narrowly escaped a similar fate as the second elephant gave chase but eventually abandoned the pursuit.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who have accused Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers of failing to respond swiftly to their calls for help.
According to the villagers, some KWS officers arrived at the scene but were unable to effectively manage the situation and retreated, leaving the community to deal with the marauding elephants on their own.
As of now, the two elephants remain inside a nearby blue gum tree plantation, while the teacher’s body has been transported to Londiani Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
The residents are calling for immediate action from the KWS to prevent further tragedies and to address the growing concerns over human-wildlife conflicts in the area.
