A 30-year-old man was found dead after he had been trampled by a herd of elephants in the Galana Kulalu ranch, Kilifi County.
The animals were angered after spotting the man who was herding his cattle to a common water dam. The dam is also used by wild animals in the farm near Langobaya area, police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials said of the January 8 incident.
The body of Kala Abarafu was fould lying on the ground with multiple injuries long after the incident had happened.
Police said the body had injuries on the stomach, chest, head and legs when they arrived at the scene.
His livestock were also found safe at the site and handed over to the family as the body was moved to the mortuary.
This is the latest such case of human-wildlife conflict to be reported amid reports of drought in some places.
His family was informed to file a claim.
In May 2025, Kenya introduced the third phase of its Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme, an initiative aimed at addressing these incidents and supporting affected families.
During its launch at Meru National Park, President William Ruto unveiled the innovative Wildlife Conservation Card, a new tool designed to help fund conservation efforts.
“Compensation is justice, but prevention is progress,” Ruto said, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
“Through the Conservation Card, fencing, and community‑led tourism, we are turning conflict into opportunity,” he added.
Developed in partnership with KCB Bank, the Wildlife Conservation Card is available in three tiers—Platinum (Elephant), Gold (Lion), and Silver (Cheetah).
A portion of every transaction made with the card (Sh10, Sh5, and Sh3, respectively) goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund.
The initiative aims to enable Kenyans and international supporters to contribute to wildlife conservation while fostering economic benefits for local communities.
With this new approach, Kenya hopes to build a future where humans and wildlife can coexist more safely and sustainably.
