Shock and fear gripped Kitui South Constituency this evening after a 57-year-old man was killed by a hippopotamus in a tragic human-wildlife conflict incident near the Athi River bridge.
Channel 15 News correspondent Peter Muthui confirmed the incident, stating that the man was attacked by a lone hippopotamus that has been roaming the area. The body of the deceased was later moved to the Kitui County Referral Hospital mortuary ahead of a post-mortem examination.
Local residents said the hippopotamus has been terrorising communities along the Athi River, with several close calls reported in recent days. The animal is said to move alone and frequently strays into areas used by residents for daily activities such as fetching water, crossing the river, and tending to farms.
“We are living in fear. People can no longer freely access the river,” one resident said. Villagers have now issued an urgent appeal to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to intervene and remove the animal before more lives are lost.
The fatal attack once again highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Kitui County, especially in riverine areas where wildlife habitats overlap with human settlements.
Authorities are expected to release more details as investigations and wildlife response efforts continue.
