Anger as 4-year-old boy killed by elephants while herding goats in Kajiado

A four-year-old boy was trampled to death by three elephants while looking after goats near his family’s homestead in Olpra Village, Kajiado West.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at about 1:30pm in Oldepe Sub-location, police and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel said.

Police said the boy, was playing and looking after his family’s goats when he was attacked by the elephants.

The child was reportedly in the company of two calves when the elephants approached and trampled him.

He sustained multiple visible injuries and died at the scene.

Police officers visited and processed the scene.

The boy’s body was later removed and taken to Narok Mortuary, where it is being preserved pending a postmortem examination.

The incident highlights the continuing human-wildlife conflict in parts of Kajiado, where communities living near wildlife habitats occasionally come into contact with elephants and other wild animals.

There is a campaign to ensure safe habitat in the areas affected by the menace.

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.

read;