Police in Buuri West, Meru County, have launched investigations after the body of an unidentified man was found lying in a trench near an elephant corridor in Subuiga.
The body was discovered on September 11, 2026.
Police rushed to the scene and found the lifeless body of a man estimated to be about 50 years old lying on his back, with his hands folded across his chest.
Police said the man was shirtless and wearing orange trousers. He had no shoes, and a search of his trouser pockets did not yield any identification documents.
Police said the body had no visible injuries.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased was not known in the Subuiga area.
The scene was photographed, processed and documented before the body was moved to the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where it is being preserved pending an autopsy.
He is believed to have been attacked and killed by an elephant.
Such incidents of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise amid efforts to address them.
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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