This is a guest post by Kennedy Mugera.
A tragic confluence of events has residents of Kajiado East Constituency living in fear after an elephant that crossed over into residential areas trampled over a three year old boy coming from church in the company of his mother and elder brother.
“As they were heading home, they encountered some elephants which charged at them. Unfortunately, the mother left the younger child, and the child was knocked down. He was taken to Masimba Dispensary where he was given first aid and was later transferred to Makindu Hospital where he succumbed,” said Southern Conservation KWS Assistant Director Julius Cheptei.
Siola Sairo, writing on Facebook said, “People there (Kajiado East) are living a life of terror being surrounded by elephants. Yesterday I personally thank God for the miraculous escape after an almost head on collision with an elephant”
The community later retaliated after the boy’s burial by attacking and leaving the first elephant casualty of many to come, if the conflict escalates any further.
The residents put the blame squarely on KWS for not responding in haste whenever such an incident ensues. This being not the first time elephants have crossed out of their enclosures, the residents further said that in the past they have destroyed not only their livelihood, but also occasionally deprived their children of their right to go to school.
Conservationists have moved in to stop the growing sore in the community from festering any further, by urging KWS to bring this recurring trend to a permanent conclusion.
KWS say that there are usually about 35 elephants in the area, and they’re already making progress in their efforts to drive them away.
In the eyes of the family of the three year old boy, their efforts should have come sooner.