•Residents Demand Wildlife Protection and Swift Compensation
Isiolo County, Kenya| A 17-year-old boy sustained serious injuries on Tuesday after a vicious crocodile attack in the flooded Ewaso Nyiro River, highlighting the growing human-wildlife conflict in northern Kenya and reigniting public outcry over inadequate wildlife management measures.
The teenager, identified as Ibrahim Golicha, was attacked while attempting to cross the swollen river at Malka Intake in Bulesa, Chari Ward.
According to eyewitness reports, Ibrahim was riding a motorcycle alongside his friends when the incident occurred.
While his companions managed to escape unharmed, Ibrahim was caught by the crocodile, which latched onto his leg and inflicted severe injuries.
He was promptly rescued and rushed to Merti Sub-County Hospital for emergency medical attention.
Ibrahim is the younger brother of Chari Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Meja Golicha, a connection that has drawn greater public and political attention to the incident.
This is not the first such tragedy to hit the region. Last year, a seven-year-old boy was fatally attacked by a crocodile while herding his family’s goats near the same river.
In a desperate and emotional response, local residents mounted a search for the predator, eventually killing it.
Disturbingly, parts of the child’s remains were discovered inside the animal’s stomach, underscoring the brutality of the attack and the urgent need for preventive measures.
In the wake of the latest incident, local leaders and residents are calling on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to take immediate and decisive action.
They are demanding the deployment of trained personnel to monitor the river, erect warning signage, and implement protective barriers in high-risk areas, particularly near river crossings used by the public.
Community members have also voiced frustration over delayed compensation for victims of wildlife attacks, noting that some families have waited years without receiving any form of redress.
Under Kenyan law, victims of human-wildlife conflict are eligible for compensation, but the bureaucratic process has often been cited as slow, opaque, and inadequate.
“We are not safe. Our children, our herders, and even travelers are at constant risk. KWS must act before more lives are lost,” said one concerned resident during a community meeting held near the site of the attack.
The situation in Chari Ward reflects a broader national challenge as climate change, human encroachment, and habitat loss continue to escalate encounters between wildlife and communities.
As the rainy season intensifies and rivers swell, crocodile sightings and attacks have become more frequent across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.
Stakeholders are now urging the national and county governments to invest in long-term solutions including community awareness programs, habitat management, and faster compensation processing.
Until then, residents living near rivers like Ewaso Nyiro remain vulnerable — a reality that this week’s harrowing incident has made tragically clear.
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