A British rancher in Laikipia was on Wednesday afternoon trampled to death by a charged elephant at a watering point.
Suiyan Ranch director Girfled Powys is reported to have alighted from his car heading towards a dam when an elephant charged at him and killed him on the spot.
His farm is located in Laikipia North.
Kenya Wildlife Service senior warden in charge of Laikipia Richard Chepkwony and county police commander Simon Kipkeu confirmed the rancher was killed at 1:30pm on Wednesday.
When contacted, Chepkwony told the Star: “I communicated to Josh Perrett, the manager of the neighbouring Mugie Ranch and he confirmed the death. The area has poor mobile phone network coverage and I am yet to get more details about the incident.”
Martin Evans, the Laikipia Farmers Association chairperson regretted Powys’ death. He termed it unfortunate.
Powys was quite vocal when ranchers on Laikipia were hit by a scourge from local herders who invaded their ranches.
He publicly told off politicians from the area for inciting the herders. He spoke during last year’s Jamhuri day fete in Nanyuki.
“We have lived in those ranches for more than 102 years, yet somebody wants to come and evict us. Where do we go? The ranches are our homes. Laikipia is our home,” said he.