Farmers of Kagochi area in Mt Kenya Forest have accused the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers of beating them on suspicion they killed an elephant.
They said the rangers tortured them on Saturday evening, after an elephant was found dead, its tusks removed.
The decomposing carcass was found half a kilometre from the KWS camp near the Mt Kenya Safari Club.
Farmer Francis Mwiti on Sunday said the rangers found them working in their farms and started beating them.
He said the rangers demanded they produce the trophies and the gun used to kill the elephant.
“We were even not aware an elephant had been killed. I cannot walk properly following the beatings by the rangers,” Mwiti said.
Farmer Victor Mwenda said he was fetching firewood when the rangers forced him to join nine others and beat them from 6pm to 9pm.
Kahurura Community Forest Association chairman Kariuki Mugo condemned the action, saying the community has contributed a lot in conserving the forest and the wild animals.
Contacted, Mt Kenya conservation assistant director Aggrey Maumo said he was not aware an elephant had been killed or farmers supposedly beaten, because he was on leave.
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