Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Kenya Wildlife Service

Also known as: KWS

Government wildlife agency conducting investigations into elephant deaths, wildlife conflict compensation, and human-wildlife coexistence in Kenya.

2026-04-242026-08-11

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. The Standard

    On Monday, the search for the snake kicked off, with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers combing the thicket seeking to catch the python for relocation but they were not lucky to find it in its burrow.

    Giant python terrorises Kapseret village, residents want it relocated
  3. The Standard

    Three years ago, over 3000 squatters at Ndovuni in Maungu Township along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway were also evicted after the Kenya Wildlife Service obtained a court eviction.

    Squatters block private investor from developing disputed land
  4. The Standard

    The Busia Senator said the committee should find out the measures put in place by the Government, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to mitigate such impacts.

    Omtatah demands details on Nairobi Park projects
  5. Citizen Digital

    Meanwhile, Magarini political activist Hamadi Chadi Karisa called on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to engage communities living near rivers and lakes in finding a lasting solution to the recurring cases of human-wildlife conflict.

    14-year-old boy killed in hippo attack in Kilifi
  6. Citizen Digital

    Laikipia Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director Wellington Gathungu added, “Lakini pia ningetaka sisi wote ambao tuko hapa katika hiki kikao tujue pia tukona jukumu...majukumu fulani ya kufanya.

    106 Laikipia residents receive Ksh.24.9 million in wildlife compensation
  7. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeWomen's 42km champion Lydia Simiyu wins 26th edition of Lewa Safari Marathon at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Meru County on Saturday. [Photo/ Lewa Conservancy] Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers Samson Lemayan and Lydia Simiyu overcame nagging injuries to l

    Lemayan defends marathon title, debutant Simiyu clinches women's crown
  8. Capital News

    Also present were representatives from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), led by Amboseli National Park Warden Paul Wambi, National Government Administration Officers headed by Loitoktok Deputy County Commissioner Tonui, and members of the local community.

    Govt Pays Out Sh 49.8 Million To 187 Human-Wildlife Conflict Victims in Kajiado
  9. The Standard

    Audio By Vocalize Nakuru residents are reeling in shock following the death of a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officer in an incident authorities hsuspect was suicide.

    KWS officer dies after allegedly shooting himself six times
  10. The Standard

    Officers drawn from the National Police Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Prisons Service, some in plain clothes, escorted the demonstrators, some wearing scarves in national colours, out of the cathedral into the Nkrumah Road and Elephant Tusks and back to Treasury S

    Armed officers escort protesters along the streets
  11. Capital News

    pensation by a Mandera family whose four-year-old son was bitten by a snake has finally come to an end after the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) intervened to resolve a prolonged payment dispute involving the State Department for Wildlife and the Kenya Wildlife Service

    Ombudsman intervention unlocks Sh770,000 wildlife compensation delayed for 6 years
Tourism & Environment

Conservationists warn of three Somali giraffes killed daily in northern Kenya

The News

The North Eastern Conservancies Association claims at least three Somali giraffes are being illegally killed every day across northern Kenya due to drought, habitat pressure, human-wildlife conflict and poaching for meat. The group has warned that if the trend continues, Kenya risks destroying one of the world's most important remaining populations of Somali giraffes.

10 August 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Conservationists warn of three Somali giraffes killed daily in northern Kenya

    The North Eastern Conservancies Association claims at least three Somali giraffes are being illegally killed every day across northern Kenya due to drought, habitat pressure, human-wildlife conflict and poaching for meat. The group has warned that if the trend continues, Kenya risks destroying one of the world's most important remaining populations of Somali giraffes.

    10 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 9 August

  1. Education access disparities widen between northern and other Kenya regions

    Former Kenya Wildlife Service Director Julius Kipngetich has urged the government and education stakeholders to address stark inequalities in school access, noting that only about 14 per cent of children in northern Kenya complete secondary school and that many never reach that level, while the average Kenyan spends only about eight years in school.

    9 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 7 August

  1. KWS investigates cyanide poisoning in Amboseli elephant deaths

    Kenya Wildlife Service has launched a multi-agency investigation into 16 elephant deaths recorded between June 24 and July 31 across the Amboseli-Kimana-Kitenden ecosystem, with preliminary laboratory findings pointing to cyanide poisoning as the probable cause.

    7 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Amboseli elephant deaths reach 16; infectious disease ruled out

    The Kenya Wildlife Service reported 16 elephant deaths at Amboseli National Park as of early August, with preliminary analysis pointing to cyanide poisoning as the probable cause, though the agency awaits final laboratory test results before conclusively determining the cause of each death.

    7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 6 August

  1. Rising Kenyan lakes push crocodiles closer to homes

    Rising lake waters in Kenya's Rift Valley, driven by extreme rainfall linked to climate change, have forced tens of thousands of people to higher ground, while crocodiles and other wildlife move into inhabited areas and pose increasing danger to families and local businesses.

    6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Kenya Veterinary Association calls for cyanide poisoning probe

    The Kenya Veterinary Association has called for a multi-agency investigation into the suspected cyanide poisoning that killed 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem between June 24 and July 24. The association warns the incident poses a serious public health risk if contaminated produce entered the food supply, with preliminary tests by the Kenya Wildlife Service detecting highly toxic cyanide in the carcasses and linking the deaths to elephants feeding on pesticide-sprayed tomatoes in Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Group Ranch.

    6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Narok enacts Wildlife Conservancies Act for Greater Mara protection

    Narok County has enacted the Wildlife Conservancies Act, 2026, establishing a dedicated fund financed by at least two percent of the county's audited revenue to support conservation programmes and aid families affected by human-wildlife conflict. The Act emphasizes community participation, requiring transparency, annual audits, and partnerships with government agencies and conservation organizations.

    5 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Igembe North farmers seek faster elephant damage compensation

    Farmers in Igembe North Constituency whose crops were destroyed by elephants are calling on the Kenya Wildlife Service to fast-track compensation, saying relief food distributed by the government—a bag of maize, a bag of beans, and eight kilograms of porridge flour per household—is insufficient and will only last a few days.

    5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 3 August

  1. KWS officer contradicts himself in Odhiambo disappearance case

    A Nakuru court resumed hearing into the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo, allegedly missing while in Kenya Wildlife Service custody near Lake Nakuru. The fifth accused, Abdulrahman Sudi, testified in his defence but contradicted himself repeatedly, including changing his account of whether a man he was guarding had been tied with rope or handcuffed.

    3 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 31 July

  1. UGM demands probe into elephant deaths in Amboseli

    The United Green Movement has called for an independent investigation into the alleged poisoning of fifteen elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem, saying preliminary laboratory findings detected a potential toxic substance in samples from affected elephants. UGM cited gaps in Kenya's regulation of hazardous chemicals and urged authorities to prevent similar wildlife deaths.

    31 July 2026 · Capital News

Thursday 30 July

  1. KWS investigates mysterious deaths of 14 elephants near Amboseli

    At least 14 elephants of different ages and sexes have died over three weeks near Amboseli National Park in locations 15 to 30 kilometers from its boundaries. Kenya Wildlife Service has launched investigations and sent samples from the carcasses to the Government Chemist for analysis.

    30 July 2026 · The Standard

  2. Cyanide poisoning from tomato farms kills fifteen elephants

    Laboratory analysis by Kenya Wildlife Service confirmed that cyanide sprayed on nearby tomato farms caused the deaths of fifteen elephants in Amboseli National Park over the past month. KWS officials warn that livestock grazing in contaminated fields also risk poisoning from the highly toxic chemical.

    30 July 2026 · The Standard

  3. Cyanide poisoning likely killed fifteen elephants in Amboseli Park

    Fifteen elephants found dead over the past month in Amboseli National Park near the Tanzanian border were likely poisoned by cyanide, possibly from pesticides on nearby farms. Kenya Wildlife Service investigators suspect the elephants ate tomatoes contaminated with strong pesticides, though the investigation was still under way and it remains unclear whether the poisoning was accidental or deliberate.

    30 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Cyanide poisoning kills 15 elephants in Amboseli ecosystem

    Fifteen elephants in the Amboseli National Park ecosystem died from cyanide poisoning after ingesting pesticides sprayed on nearby tomato farms, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. The deaths have raised concerns among conservationists, local leaders, and wildlife authorities about the impact of farming activities on wildlife in the region.

    29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Forty elephants found after straying from Tsavo East

    Forty elephants that strayed from Tsavo East National Park into Makueni County have been found and contained on KARLO land in Kibwezi. The Kenya Wildlife Service assured residents of safety and reaffirmed commitment to peaceful coexistence between communities and wildlife.

    29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Toxic substance suspected in 15 Amboseli elephant deaths

    Investigators have detected a potential toxic substance in samples from elephants that died in the Amboseli ecosystem, with preliminary findings from the University of Nairobi identified as a suspected toxin. KWS is conducting further quantitative tests to determine the substance's concentration and whether it caused the deaths, while investigating environmental factors and water sources.

    28 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. KWS launches urgent inquiry into 14 elephant deaths near Amboseli

    Kenya Wildlife Service has begun an investigation into the mysterious deaths of 14 elephants in southern Kenya near Amboseli National Park, with tissue samples sent to laboratories to determine whether disease, poisoning, or another factor was responsible. Officials say this is the first time in decades that elephant mortalities on this scale have been recorded in the region.

    28 July 2026 · Capital News

Saturday 25 July

  1. Hippo's nightly visits to homestead spark Kiangati wildlife concerns

    A hippo from River Thiba has been entering Francis Nyamu's homestead in Kiangati Village every evening for nearly a month, prompting residents to demand Kenya Wildlife Service intervention and raising alarm over human-wildlife conflict as multiple hippos stray from the river into nearby villages, destroying crops and killing livestock.

    25 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 24 July

  1. UK relocates military training exercise to Tanzania

    The UK government announced plans to move a planned military training exercise (Exercise Haraka Storm) from Kenya to Tanzania after Kenya failed to approve the renewal of licenses for the British Army Training Unit (BATUK). The exercise was scheduled to run in Laikipia between September and November.

    24 July 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 23 July

  1. Hyenas drive night curfews in Maasai Mara border villages

    Residents living along the Maasai Mara Game Reserve face an unwritten dusk-to-dawn curfew as hyenas venture deeper into settlements, attacking livestock and forcing families indoors at night. A Monday attack in Molibany Village killed more than 50 sheep, with residents questioning why predators are increasingly bold despite ongoing conservation efforts.

    23 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Petitioners accuse KWS of blocking court-ordered park inspection

    Petitioners in a case filed by more than 4,600 Kenyans seeking to halt developments in Nairobi National Park claim the Kenya Wildlife Service locked out members of the media and most petitioners from a court-ordered site inspection on Tuesday, despite an Environment and Land Court direction for all parties to be present.

    22 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. Nairobi National Park hosts court inspection on orphanage relocation

    The Environment and Land Court conducted a fact-finding visit to Nairobi National Park to assess a proposed relocation of the Nairobi Animal Orphanage. Kenya Wildlife Service defended the move, arguing the existing facility established in 1964 has ageing infrastructure that no longer meets modern wildlife management standards and is under pressure from growing visitor numbers.

    22 July 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 19 July

  1. Homa Bay man, 47, killed in hippo attack near lake

    A 47-year-old man was attacked and killed by a stray hippo near Kisiege beach in Rachuonyo North Sub County around 2 am on Saturday as he was heading home from a local pub. A local administrator expressed concern about increasing hippo activity in villages at night and called on Kenya Wildlife Service to intervene.

    19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 17 July

  1. PEP leader calls for law guaranteeing national park revenue shares

    People's Empowerment Party leader Stephen Mwakesi has called for legislation guaranteeing counties and communities hosting national parks a defined share of revenue generated from them, arguing Kenya needs a comprehensive legal framework specifying the proportion of park revenue to be shared, payment timelines and accountability mechanisms.

    17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. PEP leader calls for law guaranteeing national park revenue sharing

    Stephen Mwakesi, a Taita Taveta gubernatorial aspirant, has called for legislation guaranteeing counties and communities hosting national parks a defined share of revenue generated from them. While the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act provides that neighbouring communities should receive at least five per cent of benefits, Mwakesi argues Kenya needs a more comprehensive legal framework specifying revenue proportions, payment timelines, and accountability mechanisms.

    17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 15 July

  1. KWS, NPS to strengthen wildlife conservation partnerships

    The Kenya Wildlife Service and National Police Service have pledged to continue strengthening partnerships with local communities and private conservancies to advance wildlife conservation, improve security, and protect Kenya's wildlife. The commitment was made at the annual general meeting of wildlife rangers in Nairobi, where participants received training on technology use and stakeholders emphasized the need for greater gender inclusion in conservation careers.

    15 July 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Elephants destroy crops in Mtito Andei farms, residents seek intervention

    Farmers in Mtito Andei, Makueni County, are counting losses after a herd of elephants invaded farms in Kivwauni, Lukenya and Nhunguni villages, destroying crops and vegetation. Local leaders have reported the incident to Kenya Wildlife Service and other authorities, calling for urgent intervention to drive the animals back to their habitat.

    14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. KWS rescues orphaned hyena cub near Naivasha

    Kenya Wildlife Service veterinarians rescued an orphaned hyena cub found alone near Naivasha and transferred it to the KWS Canine Unit for round-the-clock care. KWS used the rescue to emphasize hyenas' ecological importance as hunters and scavengers that maintain ecosystem balance.

    14 July 2026 · Capital News

Saturday 11 July

  1. Courts emerge as protector against state-enabled environmental destruction

    An opinion piece argues that state agencies tasked with environmental protection—NEMA, KWS, and Kenya Forest Service—are instead enabling ecosystem destruction through amendments to safeguard laws and approval of development projects in protected areas. The writer contends that Kenya's courts, empowered by Articles 42, 69, and 70 of the Constitution, may be the last defence against state-led environmental harm.

    11 July 2026 · The Standard

Friday 10 July

  1. Senate summons Miano, KWS boss over Amboseli handover delay

    The Senate has summoned Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erastus Kanga to explain why a Presidential Proclamation on handing over Amboseli Game Reserve to Kajiado County has not been implemented.

    10 July 2026 · The Standard

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