Missing man, 40 found dead after attack by elephant in Tana River
A 40-year-old man was killed by a lone elephant in Tana River County in a fatal wildlife attack.
Benson Kadenge Charo, was reportedly attacked on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Gumba area in Ngao Sub-location, Tarasaa Sub-County.
The police, accompanied by officers from the County Security and Safety Secretariat (CSSS) Tana Delta and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel from Garsen, visited the scene.
They established that Charo had been attacked by a lone elephant, sustaining multiple visible injuries to his abdomen, neck, hips and head.
Efforts to trace Charo through his mobile phone had been unsuccessful since Saturday, before his body was discovered.
The scene was processed and documented while the body was removed to Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
Police and the KWS advised the family to file a compensation claim.
This is the latest such case of human-wildlife conflict in the area.
Such incidents have been on the rise in areas near the parks amid calls for measures to be put in place to address the same.
In May 2025, Kenya introduced the third phase of its Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme, an initiative aimed at addressing these incidents and supporting affected families.
During its launch at Meru National Park, President William Ruto unveiled the innovative Wildlife Conservation Card, a new tool designed to help fund conservation efforts.
“Compensation is justice, but prevention is progress,” Ruto said, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
“Through the Conservation Card, fencing, and community‑led tourism, we are turning conflict into opportunity,” he added.
Developed in partnership with KCB Bank, the Wildlife Conservation Card is available in three tiers—Platinum (Elephant), Gold (Lion), and Silver (Cheetah).
A portion of every transaction made with the card (Sh10, Sh5, and Sh3, respectively) goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund.
The initiative aims to enable Kenyans and international supporters to contribute to wildlife conservation while fostering economic benefits for local communities.
With this new approach, Kenya hopes to build a future where humans and wildlife can coexist more safely and sustainably.
