Man killed by elephant in Tana River

In Tana River County, a 40-year-old man named Benson Kadenge Charo lost his life in a fatal encounter with a lone elephant. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, August 30, 2026, around 5pm, near Gumba area in Ngao Sub-location, Tarasaa Sub-County. Upon arrival at the scene, the police, along with officers from the County Security and Safety Secretariat (CSSS) Tana Delta and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel from Garsen, found Charo suffering from multiple injuries to his abdomen, neck, hips, and head.

Although attempts were made to locate Charo using his mobile phone, his body was ultimately discovered. The incident was documented by CSSS Tana Delta officers, and his body was transported to Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination. In an advisory, the police encouraged the family to file a compensation claim.

In May 2025, Kenya launched the third phase of its Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme, which aims to address such incidents and provide financial support to affected families. President William Ruto unveiled the Wildlife Conservation Card during the launch at Meru National Park, a tool designed to fund conservation efforts.

The card has three tiers—Platinum (Elephant), Gold (Lion), and Silver (Cheetah)—with a percentage of each transaction contributing to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund. Through this initiative, Kenya aims to foster coexistence between humans and wildlife by funding conservation, building fencing, and promoting community-led tourism.