A lion that escaped from the Nairobi National Park was killed yesterday after it attacked a boda boda rider in Isinya, Kajiado County.
Evans Murigi Muhoro suffered bruises on his back and hands after the lion attacked him.
He was rushed to the Isinya Sub-County Hospital where doctors said he was out of danger.
However, the killing of the lion enraged a cross-section of Kenyans who alleged there was conspiracy to ultimately wipe out all wild animals from the park.
A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger shot the lion more than 10 times after attempts to immobilise it failed.
Police officers had a hectic time controlling Maasai morans who were charging towards the lion armed with spears.
Area residents applauded KWS rangers but wondered why they had to take more than five hours to arrive at the scene.
“We have been here from 7am and no officer had arrived. Had this animal got wilder, it could have killed all of us,” said Joseph ole Kasaine.
He appealed to KWS to control the movement of lions from the Nairobi National Park to avert more cases of attacks.
KENYANS ON TWITTER
But Kenyans on twitter reacted with anger.
@Peter_aminga: Are we still a tourist destination when we killing the same animals that drive tourists to the country? Nairobi National Park must be saved.
@piusmuturi: Something is terribly wrong, something is cooking up at Nairobi National Park... it will show up sooner than later.
@landi_wordsmith: A lion was shot because it acted wild? How did they expect it to act? Kwani Nairobi National Park is an etiquette school?
@Raphdilla: Lions escape Nairobi National Park because of human encroachment and ends up in another lion dying.
@ Jackiemutai: Couldn’t they just put the poor lion to sleep and safely take him back home to Nairobi National Park? Why kill him?
@achemoss Disappointed by KWS for shooting dead the lion that strayed from Nairobi National Park. I assume GoK can’t afford tranquilisers.
@KennStiffler Humans are the ones encroaching the Nairobi National Park and threatening the existence of lions.
@abubakar_dayax : The land in Nairobi National Park is at risk. The lion escape is scapegoat to take away the land.
@bkamket: I think it’s time to do away with Nairobi National Park. It’s no longer tenable. Relocate the wildlife elsewhere and create a new city.
