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Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued a statement following the fatal shooting of a herder at the Tsavo East National Park in Taita-Taveta County.

During the incident, KWS further revealed that an officer was shot in the arm with a poisoned arrow by a group of herders who had forced themselves into the park.

“Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) regrets to announce an unfortunate incident that occurred on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at Yakalicha, 16 kilometres inside Tsavo East National Park. During a routine security patrol, KWS officers encountered a group of over 30 armed herders who had illegally entered the park,” KWS narrated.

“In the ensuing confrontation, the herders attacked the KWS officers with poisoned arrows and advanced aggressively. Regrettably, one herder was fatally injured during the incident and one officer escaped by a whisker from being shot with a poisoned arrow that stuck on the forearm.”

Regrets shooting

KWS regretted the death, citing the historically harmonious relationship between the Service and the Kone community.

KWS equally noted that the incident had been reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Mutomo, Kitui County, and Garsen, Tana River County and that crime scene Investigation teams were working to establish the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

“Over the past year, KWS has faced increasing hostility along the north-eastern boundary of Tsavo East National Park. Unfortunately, a section of the local community has been incited by the Member of Parliament for Garsen Constituency, Guyo Ali Wario, to illegally invade and settle within the park with false promises of acquiring land,” KWS stated.

The wildlife body further indicated that several herders have consequently relocated into the park, posing a significant threat to wildlife and KWS personnel, displacement of wildlife, poaching, bush meat trade, wildlife deaths, arson, and environmental degradation.

Burning of police station

The service noted previous conflict with the neighbouring communities had resulted in the burning of a police station in Kitui County after local residents set up illegal settlements in the South Kitui National Reserve.

“In November 2024, such hostility culminated in the burning of a police station and the displacement of a KWS security base at Kalalani inside South Kitui National Reserve. This act compromised public safety, property security, and wildlife protection,” KWS noted.

The wildlife body equally observed that the animosity continued despite them engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities including the drilling of boreholes for locals and construction of classrooms to encourage education.

“KWS reiterates that illegal entry into national parks constitutes a criminal offence under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, Cap 376. Armed incursions into wildlife-protected areas are particularly provocative and pose serious risks to both law enforcement officers and the public,” the service reiterated.