Tragedy as ranger, 26 killed by stray bullet during buffalo attack in Mara, Narok County

A 26-year-old ranger was killed by a stray bullet after a patrol team came under attack from a buffalo along the Kenya-Tanzania border in the Maasai Mara.

The incident occurred on Monday morning in the Indonyok-Olpaek area within the Mara Triangle, Narok County.

Officials said park rangers had left their station for a patrol when they encountered the buffalo and came under attack.

In response, one of the rangers fired two rounds from his issued AK-47 rifle. One of the bullets accidentally struck fellow ranger Joshua Saitoti Olesitoi, 26, in the left hip joint.

An AMREF medical team was called to evacuate the injured ranger. He was taken to the park clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The scene was processed and documented by investigators before the body was moved to Transmara West Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for preservation pending a postmortem examination.

The deceased’s next of kin were informed before the body was removed. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

Such incidents of attack by wild animals are common at the parks.

Elsewhere, police in Tigania West, Meru County, have launched investigations into the murder of a man whose body was found with visible injuries.

The deceased, identified as Kinyua Kambura, of Mwikanda Kaongo area, was discovered dead on Monday.

Police officers visited the scene and established that Kambura had been living alone.

The body had visible cut wounds on the face and right hand, raising suspicion that he had been attacked and killed by unknown assailants.

The remains were moved to Meru Referral Hospital Mortuary, where they are being preserved pending an autopsy.

Police have commenced investigations to establish the circumstances of the killing and identify those responsible.

And the remains of a 68-year-old woman who went missing about four weeks ago were discovered in a thicket in Ikutha Sub-County, Kitui County.

The human skeleton was found on Monday evening in Ngwate Village, within a parcel of land belonging to a local resident.

Police officers who visited the scene found scattered human bones, female clothing and a bag containing medication and an identification card bearing the name Kongu Mathuka Ngulo, 68.

Family members positively identified the clothes and identification documents as belonging to Kongu, who they said had been unwell for some time before disappearing from her home about four weeks ago.

Efforts by relatives to trace her whereabouts had reportedly been unsuccessful.

The scene was processed, documented and photographed before the remains were collected and moved to Mutomo Mortuary, pending further identification and examination.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.