A 36-year-old man has been killed in an elephant attack in the Marafa area of Lamu West Sub-County.
The deceased, identified as Daniel Macharia Gachea, was reportedly heading home from the Kibaoni General direction when he encountered the elephant, which attacked him.
Police officers accompanied by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from Mpeketoni, rushed to the scene following a report of the incident on October 18, 2026.
Upon arrival, the officers found Gachea’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, with visible injuries to the head.
The body was moved to Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination.
Authorities are yet to issue further details regarding the incident.
The attack highlights the persistent risk of human-wildlife conflict in areas where communities live and travel near elephant habitats.
Police advised the family to file a compensation 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.
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