The government has pledged to compensate the family of a boy killed by a stray elephant in Kitui.
The boy, Collins David, 13 was trampled by the animal on May 7 as he untied a donkey in his grandmother’s, Kasisi Ngandi, farm.
David was a class eight pupil at Gai Primary School.
The awful incident sparked protests from enraged residents who barricaded the busy Mwingi- Kyuso Road causing snarl-ups for hours.
The elephant that strayed out of Tsavo East National Park was gunned down by Kenya Wildlife Services rangers from Mwingi North Game Reserve and Kora National Park near Ngaie market.
KWS officials said the government would give the family Sh5 million, a compensation fee legally set for a person killed by wildlife.
Senior warden in charge of Meru and Kora National parks, Mr Tuqa Jirmo, assured the family that they would be offered the cash after consultations with the County Wildlife Conservation and Compensation Committee (CWCCC)
“We have issued the next of kin with a wildlife compensation forms which they will fill and submit to the county wildlife compensation committee,” Mr Jirmo said, adding that they had financed all the burial expenses.
During his burial at Gai village in Mwingi North on Saturday, Kitui CWCC Chairman Mwasya Mwinzi said the matter will be deliberated in less than a month’s time.
He said the agency would work closely with the county government and the residents to avert future incidents.
BRIGHT STUDENT
Nevertheless, local leaders who spoke at the burial blamed the KWS for laxity with the area MP John Munuve saying the agency could have prevented the misfortune by responding in time.
“KWS was informed of the stray elephant wandering in this area a day before it killed Collins, but they took a lot of time to respond even after the boy was killed,” Mr Munuve said.
The lawmaker reassured the family of his commitment in pushing the government to honour its pledge to the grieved family.
Ms Mary Kasisi, the mother to the deceased eulogized her only son saying his death had robbed her only future hope.
Her teachers and area education officials described the youngster as a bright boy who was among the top students in his class.
Kyuso District Education Officer Mr Robert Mueti said the boy had attended Kitui County Education Mentorship Programme during the April break.
“Indeed we have been robbed a young boy who would be one of the best KCPE candidates this year,” Mr Mueti said.