Girl, man killed by lion and elephant in Nairobi & Nyeri

According to a statement from KWS, the lion entered a residential compound and fatally mauled the girl, who was a Grade 7 student at a nearby primary school

Staff Writer April 21, 2025 2 minutes read

By Newsflash Reporter

Two families are grieving the loss of their loved ones following separate deadly encounters with wild animals in Nairobi and Nyeri counties, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has reported.

In Nairobi, tragedy struck on Saturday evening when a 14-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a lion at Savannah Ranch, located just beyond the Mbagathi River near Nairobi National Park.

According to a statement from KWS, the lion entered a residential compound and fatally mauled the girl, who was a Grade 7 student at a nearby primary school.

The attack, which happened at around 7pm, was witnessed by another teenager who quickly alerted the community. KWS rangers were dispatched to the scene and followed a trail of blood to the Mbagathi River, where the girl’s body was found.

KWS confirmed the victim had sustained injuries to her lower back. The lion was not spotted during the initial response, prompting an ongoing search involving traps and ground teams combing the area.

Officers from the Olosirgon Police Station processed the scene before the girl’s body was taken to the Nairobi Funeral Home, accompanied by her father.

Man attacked

In a separate incident in Nyeri County, a 54-year-old man was fatally injured by an elephant on Friday while in Mere Forest, located in Kimahuri. The man suffered severe chest injuries, fractured ribs, and internal trauma, KWS said. Despite being rushed to Karatina Sub-County Hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The incident was reported to the Kimahuri Police Post, and both local officers and a KWS team from Mount Kenya visited the scene to investigate.

KWS expressed condolences to the bereaved families and reiterated its commitment to improving safety measures for communities living close to wildlife habitats.