Man dies after suspected hippopotamus attack in Thika

A 51-year-old man named Amos Karuku Muraya, also known as Ammo, lost his life after a suspected hippopotamus attack near the Chania River in Thika West, Kiambu County. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 4, 2026, when a witness reported finding a lifeless body in a Napier grass farm in the Majengo area. Upon arrival, police discovered Muraya's body with severe injuries to his head, chest, and both hands, likely inflicted by a hippopotamus from the nearby Chania River.

The Crime Scene Investigation team processed the scene and the body was subsequently taken to General Kago Mortuary for preservation pending a postmortem examination. Authorities are now investigating the incident, which is indicative of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in areas bordering wildlife habitats. The family has been advised to seek compensation, and the government has been addressing these issues through campaigns and the launch of the Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme in May 2025.

The initiative, spearheaded by President William Ruto, includes the Wildlife Conservation Card, which generates funds for conservation efforts through financial transactions. With this new approach, Kenya aims to promote a future of coexistence between humans and wildlife.