Woman killed by marauding elephant in Taita Taveta

Taita-Taveta: A cloud of gloom engulfed a village after a marauding elephant trampled to death an elderly woman and seriously injured another man in Taita-Taveta County.

The elderly woman, Abigael Samba, was killed by the rogue elephant in Mbulia-Mlilo village in Voi district an area which has in the recent past seen increased human-wildlife conflict.

Police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials say another person was badly injured and was recuperating at Voi district hospital.

The deceased was attacked by the elephant as she was collecting firewood while the second victim was walking along the road in the area.

County Police Commander Richard Bitonga said the body of the deceased had been preserved at Voi hospital mortuary.

Taita KWS Community Warden Samuel Rukaria said that the organization was doing all it can to minimize such attacks even as local political leaders accused KWS for not doing enough.

Area County Representative Jones Mughanga in whose area the incident occurred accused the wildlife conservation body of valuing wildlife more than human beings.

The incident comes at a time when the government is still yet to constitute the County Compensation committee that will be charged with the responsibility of verifying compensation claims for victims of such attacks.