Kenyans angered by shooting and killing of lion by KWS rangers

Kenya Wildlife Service rangers Wednesday shot dead a lion in Isinya, sparking anger among Kenyans and conservationists.

The big cat was spotted on the Nairobi–Namanga road early in the morning, prompting KWS to send two teams from Isinya and Nairobi.

But by the time the teams arrived in Isinya, residents were chasing the animal with spears, bows and arrows.

As the crowd grew, the lion clawed a man who was on a motorcycle.

KWS personnel and police officers from Kajiado and Kitengela fired several times in the air. Witnesses said that might have agitated the animal.  

In a video acquired by the Nation, the lion is seen running away, roaring as shouts and gunfire rent the air.

It runs towards a parked white pick-up truck before it is shot in the leg and stomach.

The animal falls dead when it is shot seven more times.

KWS head of corporate communications Paul Masela Gathitu said investigations had been launched as to why the animal was killed instead of being sedated.

“Our Kitengela branch team that specialises in translocation has been sent to the scene,” Mr Gathitu had said.

Earlier, Mr Gathitu had assured Kenyans that the lion would be driven back to its habitat and its reason for leaving the park established.

He could not immediately tell whether the lion had strayed from the Nairobi National Park or reserves in Kitengela, Magadi, Amboseli or elsewhere.

Kajiado Deputy County Commissioner David Kipkemoi said he was angered by the killing of the lion.

“They should have used tranquillisers to render the animal harmless. This was very irresponsible of KWS officers,” said Mr Kipkemoi.

KWS Director-General Kitili Mbathi blamed the frequent escapes of lions on infrastructure development in the Nairobi National Park.

“There is an electric fence around the park. During construction of the southern bypass and the SGR, the contractors accidentally cut the wires,” he said during a press briefing at KWS headquarters yesterday. 

“When lions periodically go to the fence and find it cannot harm them, they cross in an attempt to get to the livestock near the army barracks or just behind Syokimau Station.”

Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu added: “We are working very closely with contractors to make sure that as they continue building, they should maintain the integrity of the park to keep the animals safe.”

KWS Assistant Director in charge of the southern conservation area Julius Cheptei said it was normal for animals to move out of their habitats from time to time.

“The noise made by those people who surrounded the lion roused its anger,” said Mr Cheptei.

Asked why the animal was killed instead of being tranquillised, Mr Cheptei said sedating the lion could have been more dangerous to the public.

“We feared that those few minutes before the tranquilliser could take effect might have caused the lion to injure more people,” he told reporters Wednesday.