Morans arrested for killing elephants, buffaloes

KWS officials held a meeting with the local community in Amboseli on Thursday. Another meeting to be addressed by KWS director, Julius Kipngetich will be held in a fortnight.

The incident comes just one month after Morans in Kajiado's Kitengela area killed six lions that had strayed into their bomas mauling livestock.

Ten Maasai morans (youths) are nursing serious injuries in a Namanga hospital after they were allegedly beaten by game rangers from Amboseli National Park. Area residents said the morans were accused by the rangers of killing the two elephants, and five buffaloes from the park earlier in the week.

“The game rangers should have only arrested the suspects instead of beating them senseless and leaving them for dead.

This is a serious issue and we have to take legal action against KWS,” said Olgulului group ranch chairman Daniel Leturesh.

KWS information officer Paul Muya confirmed that 30 morans suspected to have attacked wildlife were arrested.

However, he denied there were any beatings involved.

The residents said wild animals have been killing people and livestock with KWS offering no compensation.

“Nothing is done when a lion kills a person, but when a person kills a lion, KWS will respond in record time,” said Olkejuado county council chairman Taraiya ole Kores. He asked KWS to keep animals off pastoralists homes and grazing fields.

KWS officials held a meeting with the local community in Amboseli on Thursday. Another meeting to be addressed by KWS director, Julius Kipngetich will be held in a fortnight.

The incident comes just one month after morans in Kajiado's Kitengela area killed six lions that had strayed into their bomas mauling livestock.